Lip Repositioning as an Alternative Treatment of Gummy Smile
Lip Repositioning as an Alternative Treatment of Gummy Smile
Objective
Excessive gingival display (EGD) may compromise esthetics during smile. As the etiology is multi-factorial, various treatment
options have been described for the management of EGD. The aim of this report was to present the management of four patients
with EGD by lip repositioning technique as a minimally invasive treatment modality.
Case
Four female patients referred to our department with a chief complaint of unaesthetic appearance during smiling. Clinical
examination revealed EGD as a result of vertical maxillary excess and hypermobile upper lip. Lip repositioning surgery was
performed in order to restrict the pull of the elevator lip muscles. No complications or recurrence were observed at 6-month
follow-up and all patients were satisfied with the outcomes of the procedure.
Conclusion
As a safe and relatively simple procedure, lip repositioning may provide satisfactory outcomes for patients with excessive gingival
display.
___
- 1. Tjan AH, Miller GD, The JG. Some esthetic factors in a
smile. J Prosthet Dent. 1984;51(1):24-8.
- 2. Robbins JW. Differential diagnosis and treatment or
excess gingival display. Pract Periodontics Aesthet Dent.
1999;11(2):265-272.
- 3. Martins AT, Sakakura CE, Correcirc BE. Pontes AEF. A
modified technique that decreases the height of the upper
lip in the treatment of gummy smile patients: a case
series study. J. Dent. Oral Hyg. 2012; 4(3):21-28.
- 4. Livada R, Shiloah J. Gummy smile: could it be genetic?
Hereditary gingival fibromatosis. J Tennessee Dental
Association. 2012;92(1):23.
- 5. Monaco A, Streni O, Chiara Marci M, Marzo G, Gatto R,
Giannoni M. Gummy smile: clinical parameters useful
for diagnosis and therapeutical approach. J Clin Pediatr
Dentistry. 2005;29(1):19-25.
- 6. Rubinstein AM, Kostianovsky AS. Cosmetic Surgery
malformation of Smiles. Prep Med Argent 1973;60:952.
- 7. Roy BM. Lip Repositioning: Patient Outcome Assessments
[master thesis]. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University;
2016:1-28.
- 8. Alammar AM, Heshmeh OA. Lip repositioning with a
myotomy of the elevator muscles for the management
of a gummy smile. Dent Med Probl. 2018 Jul-
Sep;55(3):241-246.
- 9. Silva CO, Ribeiro-Júnior NV, Campos TV, Rodrigues JG,
Tatakis DN. Excessive gingival display: treatment by a
modified lip repositioning technique. J Clin Periodontol.
2013;40(3):260-265.
- 10. Rosenblatt A, Simon Z. Lip repositioning for reduction
of excessive gingival display: A clinical report. Int J
Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2006;26:433–7.