Lip Repositioning with Vestibular Shallowing Technique for Treatment of Excessive Gingival Display with Various Etiologies

Abstract

Alireza Torabi, DDS, MS/Babak Najafi, DDS, MDS, FRCD(C)/Howard J. Drew, DMD/Emil G. Cappetta, DMD: Improvement of smile esthetics is a major goal of modern dentistry. Various treatment modalities have been proposed to correct excessive gingival display (EGD), depending on the identified etiologies. This study reports on the clinical and patient-centered outcomes of a novel lip repositioning technique with vestibular shallowing approach in the treatment of three types of EGD with varying etiologies. Periosteal fenestration with cicatrization (scarification) was performed at the mucogingival junction to ensure the stability of esthetic outcomes. Suspensory triangular sutures and extraoral tissue stabilization tapes were used to facilitate the cicatrization process during the healing phase of this novel technique. Postoperative clinical examination revealed 84% reduction in gingival display that remained stable for 13 to 16 months with a high level of patient satisfaction.