The Scalloped Surgical Guide as an Alternative to Flat Bone Reduction Guide in Full-Arch Implant Restoration.

The goal of this clinical report was to present an alternative to traditional flat bone reduction guides, using a custom-designed 3-dimensional (3D)-printed guide according to the future gingival margin of the planned dentition. A 61-year-old woman with concerns regarding her smile appearance was presented. The initial examination revealed excessive gingival show accompanied by excessive overjet. The dentition was in a failing situation. The proposed treatment plan, relying on the sufficient amount of bone and keratinized tissue, consisted of recontouring of the alveolar ridge and gingiva and placement of 6 implants and an FP-1 prosthesis after extraction of all remaining maxillary teeth. Digital smile design was completed, and a fully digitally guided surgery was planned. This consisted of using 3 surgical guides, starting with the fixation pin guide, continuing with the scalloped hard- and soft-tissue reduction guide, and finally the implant placement template. Following the surgery, the patient received a temporary restoration, and on the 4-month follow-up, a new polymethyl meta-acrylate temporary prosthesis was delivered. The patient's 7-month follow-up is presented in the article. The report of this triple-template guided surgery indicated that digital 3D planning is a considerably predictable tool to properly establish and evaluate future occlusal plane, smile line, and lip support. Scalloped guides seem to be an excellent alternative to conventional bone reduction guides since they require less bone removal and improve patient comfort during surgery.

Treatment of excessive gingival display using conventional esthetic crown lengthening versus computer guided esthetic crown lengthening: (a randomized clinical trial).

BACKGROUND: Surgical guides have been proposed in an attempt to reach more predictable outcomes for esthetic crown lengthening. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of esthetic crown lengthening using 3D-printed surgical guides in the management of excessive gingival display due to altered passive eruption type 1B. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients diagnosed with altered passive eruption type 1B, were divided into two groups. In the control group, the procedure was carried out conventionally, and in the study group, a dual surgical guide was used. The parameters of wound healing (swelling, color, probing depth, bleeding index, and plaque index), pain scores, gingival margin stability, and operating time were assessed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of wound healing, pain scores, and gingival margin stability between both groups at different time intervals (P = 1), however, there was a statistical difference between both groups in terms of operating time with the study group being significantly lower (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Digitally assisted esthetic crown lengthening helps shorten the operating time and reduces the possibility of human errors during the measurements. This will be useful in helping practitioners achieve better results. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The conventional method remains to be the gold standard. However, shorter operating time and lower margins for errors will help reduce costs as the chair side time is reduced as well as the possibility for a second surgery is lower. This will improve patient satisfaction as well.

Clinical and psychological impact of lip repositioning surgery in the management of excessive gingival display.

Background: Excessive gingival display (EGD), also known as a gummy smile, is characterized by overexposure of the maxillary gingiva on smiling. EGD can cause embarrassment and reduce patient satisfaction. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and psychological effects of lip repositioning surgery on the management of EGD. Methodology: This experimental study enrolled 14 patients with EGD who had undergone a modified lip repositioning technique, which comprised moving two strips of mucosa bilaterally to the maxillary labial frenum and repositioning the new mucosal margin coronally. The extent of gingival display (GD), lip mobility (LM), total lip length (TLL), lip length (LL), and internal lip length (ILL) was measured at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. The pre-operative psychological assessment was conducted using the social appearance anxiety scale (SAAS) scores, whereas the postoperative assessment was conducted using SAAS and visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Among the clinical parameters, TLL increased by 2.0 ± 1.038, LL increased by 2.28 ± 0.99, ILL reduced by 2.78 ± 1.36, LM reduced by 3.21 ± 1.12, and GD reduced by 3.14 ± 0.77 at 6 months postoperatively. Among the psychological parameters, SAAS reduced by 31.42 ± 1.907 from the baseline to 6 months, whereas the VAS score reduced to 3.14 ± 0.27 at 6 months postoperatively. Conclusion: A significant reduction in GD, which is largely dependent on strict case selection, pain, and social anxiety was observed in this study, indicating that lip repositioning surgery is effective in managing EGD.

The Scalloped Surgical Guide as an Alternative to Flat Bone Reduction Guide in Full-arch Implant Restoration.

AIM: The goal of this clinical report was to present an alternative to traditional flat bone reduction guides, using a custom-designed 3D printed guide according to the future gingival margin of the planned dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 61-year-old female with concerns regarding her smile appearance was presented. The initial examination revealed excessive gingival show accompanied by excessive overjet. The dentition was in a failing situation. The proposed treatment plan, relying on the sufficient amount of bone and keratinized tissue, consisted of re-contouring of the alveolar ridge and gingiva and placement of six implants and a FP-1 prosthesis after extraction of all remaining maxillary teeth. RESULTS: Digital smile design was completed, and a fully-digitally-guided surgery was planned. This consisted of utilizing three surgical guides. Starting with the fixation pin guide and continuing with the scalloped hard and soft tissue reduction guide and finally, the implant placement template. Following the surgery, the patient received a temporary restoration and on the 4-month follow-up, a new poly-methyl meta-acrylate temporary prosthesis was delivered. The patient's 7-month follow-up is presented in the paper. CONCLUSIONS: The report of this triple-template guided surgery indicated that digital 3D planning is a considerably predictable tool to properly establish and evaluate future occlusal plane, smile line, and lip support. Scalloped guides seem to be an excellent alternative to conventional bone reduction guides since they require less bone removal and improve patient comfort during surgery.

Reposicionamiento Labial. Caso Clínico

El reposicionamiento labial es un procedimiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo que se utiliza para tratar una sonrisa gingival, la cual, es una afección en la que una cantidad significativa de la encía queda expuesta cuando una persona sonríe y puede deberse a una variedad de factores, como un exceso de tejido gingival, un labio superior corto o músculos hiperactivos del labio superior, entre otros. El alargamiento clínico de la corona, por otro lado, consiste en eliminar el exceso de tejido gingival y, si es necesario, el tejido óseo para exponer una mayor parte de la corona natural del diente. Se reporta un caso clínico de paciente femenino de 31 años que presentó una sonrisa gingival provocada por hipermovilidad de labio superior y un exceso de tejido gingival localizado. El plan de tratamiento involucró una combinación de reposicionamiento labial y alargamiento de corona. Los resultados estéticos fueron significativos, con la sonrisa del paciente más equilibrada y proporcionada. Se redujo la cantidad de tejido gingival expuesto cuando la paciente sonreía y la longitud de los dientes fue más visible, lo que dio como resultado una sonrisa de aspecto más natural, además de aumentar su aceptación al sonreír.

SUMMARY: Lip repositioning is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat a gummy smile, which is a condition in which a significant amount of the gum is exposed when a person smiles and may be due to a variety of factors, such as excess gum tissue, a short upper lip or overactive muscles of the upper lip, among others. Clinical crown lengthening, on the other hand, involves removing excess gingival tissue and, if necessary, bone tissue to expose more of the natural crown of the tooth. Clinical case: A clinical case of a 31-year-old female patient who presented a gummy smile caused by hypermobility of the upper lip and an excess of localized gingival tissue is reported. The treatment plan involved a combination of lip repositioning and crown lengthening. The aesthetic results were significant, with the patient's smile more balanced and displayed. The amount of the patient's exposed gum tissue when smiled was reduced and the length of the teeth was more visible, resulting in a more natural-looking smile, as well as increasing their acceptance of smiling.

The relationship between different levels of facial attractiveness and malocclusion perception: an eye tracking and survey study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between levels of facial attractiveness and the perception of different types of malocclusion. METHODS: A preliminary questionnaire was used to assign photographs of three female patients to low, moderate, and high facial attractiveness designations. Seven modified photographs for each smile photograph of each of these three patients were created. The evaluated photographs were as follows: P0: at rest position, P1: ideal smile, P2: - 2-mm (low) smile line, P3: + 4-mm gummy smile, P4: + 6-mm gummy smile, P5: maxillary anterior crowding, P6: median diastema, P7: polydiastema. An eye tracking device and a questionnaire were used to collect data from orthodontists, dentists, orthodontic patients, and laypeople. RESULTS: Total fixation duration varied depending on the type of malocclusion, the level of facial attraction, and the participants' occupations. In general, orthodontists and dentists had higher total fixation duration scores than orthodontic patients and laypersons. The maxillary anterior crowding photograph had the lowest visual analysis scale score at each attractiveness level (low, medium, and high). Visual analysis scale scores became similar at each attractiveness level only in the P4 photographs, and thus the difference in facial attractiveness disappeared. CONCLUSION: While a worsening of the ideal smile had a smaller impact on aesthetic perceptions in an individual with low facial attractiveness, it had a significant negative impact on a person with high facial attractiveness. Anterior crowding and diastema had a more negative impact on facial attractiveness than low or high smile lines.

Pink Aesthetics: Gummy Smiles and Gingival Recession.

The ideal smile is one where there is harmony between the 'white' (tooth) and 'pink' (periodontal) aesthetics. The developments in the field of periodontology have enhanced aesthetic outcomes when managing excessive gingival exposure in a 'gummy' smile or excessive tooth exposure in gingival recession cases. This paper aims to outline the aetiology, classification, and management of both a 'gummy' smile and gingival recession, putting a spotlight on aesthetics.

Multifunctional anatomical prototypes (MAPs): Treatment of excessive gingival display due to altered passive eruption.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a strategy using digital technologies for improving the diagnosis, treatment planning, and surgical execution of patients with excessive gingival display (EGD) due to altered passive eruption (APE). CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: An important component for successful patient's management is to fulfill their esthetic expectations whilst delivering predictable and long-term therapeutic outcomes. To achieve this goal in patients with excessive gingival display due to altered passive eruption, it is essential to perform an accurate diagnosis and to communicate to the patient the expected customized results using digital technologies. Computer-aided designed and manufactured multifunctional anatomical prototypes (MAPs) may contribute to these purposes. Additionally, they can guide the surgical crown lengthening procedure or serve as a reference during the surgical guide fabrication providing information of the required anatomical landmarks. CONCLUSIONS: This novel strategy protocol for diagnosis, communication, and treatment management of patients with excessive gingival display follows functional and biological principles within the frame of a digital workflow, which improves the diagnostic capabilities, enhances communication, and guides the surgical treatment as shown in the 12 months follow-up of the reported case. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Developing a virtual patient by combining multiple digital data sets including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), intra-oral scans and digital photography, supports the clinician and the patient to achieve a comprehensive diagnosis and to better communicate the expected results to the patient. Furthermore, this digital treatment exercise based on anatomical and biological principles will facilitate the surgical precision and the achievement of successful outcomes, thus fulfilling the patient needs and expectations.

Orthodontic-surgical treatment for severe skeletal class II malocclusion with vertical maxillary excess and four premolars extraction: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction with facial appearance at the end of orthodontic camouflage treatment is very important, especially for skeletal malocclusion. This case report highlights the importance of the treatment plan for a patient initially treated with four-premolar-extraction camouflage, despite indications for orthognathic surgery. CASE SUMMARY: A 23-year-old male sought treatment complaining about his unsatisfactory facial appearance. His maxillary first premolars and mandibular second premolars had been extracted, and a fixed appliance had been used to retract his anterior teeth for two years without improvement. He had a convex profile, a gummy smile, lip incompetence, inadequate maxillary incisor inclination, and almost a class I molar relationship. Cephalometric analysis showed severe skeletal class II malocclusion (A point-nasion-B point = 11.5°) with a retrognathic mandible (sella-nasion-B point = 75.9°), a protruded maxilla (sella-nasion-A point = 87.4°), and vertical maxillary excess (upper incisor to palatal plane = 33.2 mm). The excessive lingual inclination of the maxillary incisors (upper incisor to nasion-A point line = -5.5°) was due to previous treatment attempts to compensate for the skeletal class II malocclusion. The patient was successfully retreated with decompensating orthodontic treatment combined with orthognathic surgery. The maxillary incisors were repositioned and proclined in the alveolar bone, the overjet was increased, and a space was created for orthognathic surgery, including maxillary impaction, anterior maxillary back-setting, and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy to correct his skeletal anteroposterior discrepancy. Gingival display was reduced, and lip competence was restored. In addition, the results remained stable after 2 years. The patient was satisfied with his new profile as well as with the functional malocclusion at the end of treatment. CONCLUSION: This case report provides orthodontists a good example of how to treat an adult with severe skeletal class II malocclusion with vertical maxillary excess after an unsatisfactory orthodontic camouflage treatment. Orthodontic and orthognathic treatment can significantly correct a patient's facial appearance.

An Approach for Gummy Smile Treatment Using Botulinum Toxin A: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Excessive gingival exposure (gummy smile) is a non-aesthetic condition characterized by excessive exposure of the gingiva during smiling. The most common cause of gummy smiles was reported to be the hyperfunction of the muscles of the upper lip. Previous reports showed that botulinum toxin (Botox) is effective in the treatment of gummy smiles with a reversible effect, rapid initial action, safe application, low risk, and satisfactory outcome. The effect of Botox is usually observed between one and two weeks. This study aims to review the recent updates and guidelines for gummy smile treatment using botulinum toxin. A literature review was conducted involving relevant studies discussing gummy smile treatment using botulinum toxin with no time restriction. The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were used to gather the most relevant studies. The initial screening revealed 62 studies, and after removing the out-of-scope studies, the final review included 28 studies. Botulinum toxin can be used effectively for the treatment of gummy smile caused by lip dynamics with rarely reported complications. However, the most observed limitation was the temporary duration, which was reported to range from four to six months, and the re-injection of botulinum toxin is usually needed.

Non-Surgical Management of the Gingival Smile with Botulinum Toxin A-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Currently, concern about facial attractiveness is increasing, and this fact has led to orthodontics in adult patients being an increasingly demanded treatment, and with it, multi-disciplinary work. When it is caused by a vertical excess of the maxilla, the ideal solution is orthognathic surgery. However, in borderline cases and when the cause is hyperactivity of the upper lip levator muscle complex, alternative conservative solutions can be considered, such as the application of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A). Botulinum toxin is a protein produced by a bacterium and causes a reduction in the force of muscle contraction. The multi-factorial nature of the smile requires an individualized diagnosis in each patient, since there are multiple ways to treat the gummy smile (orthognathic surgery, gingivoplasty, orthodontic intrusion). In recent years, interest has grown in the simplest techniques that allow the patient to quickly return to their usual routine, such as lip replacement. However, this procedure shows recurrences in the first 6-8 post-operative weeks. The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to analyze the effectiveness of BTX-A in the treatment of gummy smile in the short term, to study its stability, and to evaluate potential complications. A thorough search of the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases and a grey literature search were conducted. The inclusion criteria were studies with a sample size greater than or equal to 10 patients with gingival exposure greater than 2 mm in smile, treated with BTX-A infiltration. Those patients whose exclusive etiology of their gummy smile was related to altered passive eruption, gingival thickening, or overeruption of upper incisors were excluded. In the qualitative analysis, the mean pre-treatment gingival exposure ranged between 3.5 and 7.2 mm, reaching a reduction of up to 6 mm after infiltration with botulinum toxin at 12 weeks. Although multiple muscles are involved in the facial expression, the muscles par excellence selected for blockade with BTX-A were levator labii superioris, levator labii superioris ala nasalis, and zygomaticus minor, infiltrating from 1.25 to 7.5 units per side. In the quantitative analysis, the difference in mean reduction between both groups was -2.51 mm at two weeks and -2.24 mm at three months. The benefit of BTX-A in terms of improvement of gummy smile is demonstrated, as a significant reduction in gummy smile is estimated by BTX-A therapy two weeks after its application. Its results gradually decrease over time, however, they stay satisfactory without returning to their initial values after 12 weeks.

A Modified Approach in Lip Repositioning Surgery for Excessive Gingival Display to Minimize Post-Surgical Relapse: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Lip repositioning surgeries are performed to treat patients with excessive GD (EGD). This study aimed to explore and compare the long-term clinical results and stability following the modified lip repositioning surgical technique (MLRS) with the addition of periosteal sutures compared to the conventional lip repositioning surgery (LipStaT®) in order to address EGD. A controlled clinical trial with female participants (n = 200) intended to improve their gummy smile were divided into control (n = 100) and test (n = 100) groups. The gingival display (GD), maxillary lip length at rest (MLLR), and maxillary lip length at maximum smile (MLLS) were measured at four time intervals (Baseline; 1 Month; 6 Months, and 1 Year) in millimeters (mm). Data were analyzed by t-tests, Bonferroni-test, and regression analysis using SPSS software. At the one-year follow-up, GD for the control and test groups were 3.77 + 1.76 mm and 2.48 + 0.86 mm, respectively, and their comparisons showed that GD was considerably lower (p = 0.000) in the test group compared to the control group. The MLLS measurements taken at baseline, one-month, six-month, and one-year follow-up showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the control and test groups. At baseline, one-month, and six-month follow-up, the mean and standard deviation for the MLLR were almost similar, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.675). The MLRS is a successful and viable treatment option for the treatment of patients with EGD. The current study showed stable results and no recurrence with MLRS until the one-year follow-up compared to LipStaT®. With the MLRS, a 2 to 3 mm decline in EGD is usually to be expected.

Is There a Correlation between Gingival Display and Incisal Inclination in a Gummy Smile? Study on Cephalometric Parameters.

BACKGROUND: Excessive gingival display or "gummy smile" is a clinical condition where a maxillary gum shows between the inferior line of the superior lip and the gingival line of the incisive superior during a spontaneous smile. The aim of this research was to understand the various skeletal and dentoalveolar components contributing to a gummy smile in a sample of 120 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective case-control study had the primary objectives of analyzing the existence of a correlation between the presence of gingival exposure and the alteration of the inclination of the upper incisors with respect to the Frankfurt plane, the Palatine plane (bi-spinal) and to the NA line in a sample of orthodontic patients, and also evaluating the association with skeletal, dental, and aesthetic cephalometric parameters. RESULT AND CONCLUSIONS: In our study, it's emerged a correlation between the gingival exposure and the presence of alterations to incisal torque in the vestibular direction and the quantity of maxillary gingiva evident during the smile, which is correlated in particular to the Is-Sts distance, overjet and overbite. The major indicative data, therefore, are related to the vertical position of the upper incisors, in particular with respect to the upper lip and to the sagittal position.

A Comparison of Self-Perceived Oral and Facial Esthetics in Patients After Lip Repositioning Surgery With Modified and Conventional Techniques.

BACKGROUND: Patients with excessive gingival display (EGD) are treated with lip repositioning surgeries (LRS). This study used a questionnaire to analyze and evaluate how patients who received LRS with modified and traditional techniques perceived their own oral and facial esthetics at various timelines after their surgeries. METHODS: An orofacial esthetic questionnaire (OEQ) was used in this cross-sectional study. The participants were patients who underwent LRS for the treatment of their EGD. They were divided into control (n=100) and test (n=100) groups. For the control group, LRS were performed using traditional/conventional techniques, and for the test group, LRS were performed using a modified approach. An OEQ was used to record responses. The scale comprised eight questions targeted to capture participating patients' perceptions about their own oral and facial esthetics at four timelines (baseline and one-month, six-month, and one-year follow-up). Patients responded to each question on a 10-point Likert scale (0: very dissatisfied, 10: very satisfied). Data was analyzed by independent samples T-tests using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 software (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: Seven (3.5%) out of the total (N=200) patients were unable to take part in the study's OEQ. At one-year follow-up, the mean and standard deviation (SD) for the test group's gingival display (GD) were 2.48±0.86 mm and 3.77±1.76 mm, respectively, and comparisons revealed that the test group's GD was significantly lower (p=0.000) than the control group. Results from the participant responses to OEQ using the Likert scale at one-year follow-up revealed significant differences between the control and test groups for all questions, except question 5 (p=0.06), as the shape of the teeth will not be affected by LRS. Patients in the test group who underwent LRS with a modified approach have a high level of satisfaction (satisfaction score: >9). Patients in the control group scored their satisfaction less favorably, with certain questions (question 3) receiving scores as low as 0.31. Perception of oral and facial esthetics was significantly higher for the test group at different time points. At one-year follow-up, the mean difference was 4.46, which was the greatest (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: EGD improved significantly at one year with the modified lip repositioning technique. The satisfaction level of patients with outcomes of the modified lip repositioning was significantly higher as compared to the satisfaction level of patients who underwent the conventional technique.

Gummy Smile Prevalence Among Ha'il City Female Young Adults and Its Impact on Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Gummy smile (GS) has a direct effect on individuals, especially among young adults, because of its association with smile avoidance. The younger populations are sensitive about their smiles and prefer aesthetic, beautiful smiles, a lack of which can negatively impact their quality of life. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to measure the GS prevalence among young adults aged 16 to 18 attending high schools in Ha'il City, Saudi Arabia, evaluating oral health related to quality of life (OHQoL) in those suffering GS by using the OHQoL questionnaire (OHIP-14). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 female high school students located in Ha'il. Students with GS took a survey on oral health using OHIP-14. For this, SPSS was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The study included 200 people with GS (52%). The mean age was 18±0.01. The prevalence of GS was analyzed, with a mean value of 4.68±1.2 mm, indicating most students had GS ranging between 4 and 5 mm. The most frequent value for all items in the OHIP-14 questionnaire was 1, indicating that students often had their quality of life affected. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test indicated the results had a significant value (p < 0.05), showing a positive and significant association. CONCLUSION: Based on the OHIP-14 questionnaire and respecting the methodology, it was concluded that the quality of life has been affected for all female students with GS. The high prevalence for ages 16-18 showed most students agreed their lives were being affected by GS and their condition needed to be treated. It was also confirmed by the significant association of GS with items of oral health and quality of life.

Prospective study of the aesthetic effect of botulinum toxin a when injected into the muscles of facial expression

Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) causes an anticholinergic effect on neuronal fibers, which control muscle contraction and autonomic disorders. Thus, it has been widely used in facial aesthetics, decreasing the action of motor muscles and consequent wrinkles. This preliminary study evaluated the effect of BoNT-A in 77 patients, the treatment satisfaction index was defined in percentage (from 0% to 100%). The evaluation was carried out on 15th, 30th, 60th, 90th, and 180th days after BoNT. The data were analyzed using the Friedman, Student t, Mann-Whitney test with t (alpha=0.05). The results showed that at 15th and 30th days the scores were similar in all muscles with high level of satisfaction and until 90th days the scores decreased significantly for Corrugator supercilii 79.38%, Occipitofrontalis 71.46%, Orbicularis oculi 70.43%; but the satisfaction was good. At 180 days, there was a drop in effectiveness in all treated muscles since the scores decreased significantly, showing low satisfaction by the participants. This study demonstrated that the BoNT-A had attested satisfaction effect by participants for up to 90th days, but at 180th days the satisfaction was low. In the comparative analyzes between women under 40 and over 40 years of age, there was no significant differences.

Periodontal Management of Gummy Smile Due to Altered Passive Eruption: A Case Report.

Today's population is expanding quickly, and there is a growing desire for aesthetics. Smiles and other friendly facial expressions communicate joy and assurance. They are the essential elements of nonverbal communication and play a significant part in establishing a person's first impression. The altered passive eruption, which results in the excessive gingival display (EGD) when the gingival edge is situated incisal to the cervical convexity of the crown, is one of the factors affecting aesthetics. It has an impact on the patient's appearance and grin. The management of EGD becomes crucial. The following case study covers the control of EGD with a crown lengthening operation.

Correction of a true full-cusp unilateral posterior crossbite using mini-screw assisted biomechanics in an adult hyperdivergent patient.

Correction of a true unilateral posterior crossbite concurrent with space closure in the same dental arch side in an adult patient is demanding due to the potential iatrogenic biomechanical side effects on the contralateral unaffected side. The current case treatment strategy was aimed to manage the true unilateral posterior crossbite and space closure with minimal dentoalveolar undesirable effects by innovative application of a custom-made TAD (temporary anchorage device)-based palatal expander. In the present case report, non-orthognathic treatment of an adult female with unilateral upper right side true posterior crossbite is discussed. The patient revealed excessive gingival show at smile and upper midline deviation to the left side. The patient had also a previous history of first molar extraction on the crossbite side. The treatment was conducted by correcting the unilateral crossbite and space closure in the upper right side by using an innovative custom-made modification of hyrax anchored on TADs. Correction of the true full cusp unilateral crossbite, space closure, and midline deviation was accomplished. The patient's satisfactory aesthetic and occlusal results were obtained in 26 months with no undesirable complications in the opposite arch side. Innovative application of the miniscrew-based biomechanics could facilitate challenging treatments such as unilateral full cusp crossbite in adults with optimal final occlusal and aesthetic results and minimal undesirable complications.

Laser-Assisted Lip Repositioning Surgery: A Modification to The Conventional Technique.

Introduction: The lip repositioning surgical technique arose with the objective of correcting and harmonizing the act of smiling. Since the conventional technique was published, some modifications of the technique have been proposed in order to counteract postoperative recurrence and to achieve the best esthetic appearance of the smile. The objective of this paper was to describe the laser-assisted lip repositioning technique (laser-assisted LRS) with a 940nm diode laser and 2780nm Er,Cr: YSGG, as a modification to the conventional lip repositioning technique, for the treatment of a gummy smile. Case Report: The proposed technique consists in achieving the descent of the upper lip by removing the intraoral mucosal band through the laser peeling of oral mucosa, preserving the connective tissue intact for healing by secondary intention. The technique was implemented in two patients with a diagnosis of a gummy smile caused by a short and hyperactive upper lip; the healing process was satisfactory, and there was no bleeding or postoperative edema. Postoperative controls were performed at 3 and 10 months, and no recurrence was found. Conclusion: the 940nm Diode laser or 2780nm Er,Cr: YSGG laser-assisted lip repositioning technique described here is less invasive than that performed with a conventional scalpel, offers aesthetic results, lower risk of infection and recurrence of the gummy smile in the long term.

Clinical advantages of improving the excessive gingival display (EGD) by surgical repositioning of the upper lip.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to minimize gingival display by surgical repositioning of the upper lip and to suggest this technique as an alternative treatment modality to orthognatic surgery for treatment of excessive gingival display. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients were selected with gingival display of more than 2 mm during maximal smiling. All patients underwent surgical repositioning of the upper lip, aimed at limiting elevator muscle activity to treat excessive gum exposure. Patients were regathered in 1 week for the follow-up postoperative symptoms according to VAS scale to evaluate pain and swelling. Reference values were given to patients. RESULTS: The study has indicated good results and stability especially to patients with skeletal class I classification along with medium and thick biotype of attached gingiva without hypermobile upper lip. CONCLUSION: Surgical repositioning of the upper lip is an effective way to improve a patient's gingival smile caused by degree I and II VME in combination with HUL as an alternative treatment modality to orthognathic surgery. This method is less invasive and cost-effective, causes minimal postoperative complications, and provides faster recovery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Excessive gingival display (EGD) with various etiologies requires several proper treatment modalities. The proposed modified method of lip repositioning to reduce the degree of gingival display is less aggressive, reliable, and causes fewer postoperative complications compared to orthognathic surgery.