EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT LIP REPOSITIONING TECHNIQUES IN THE ESTHETIC TREATMENT OFGUMMY SMILE

Abstract

The excessive gingival display upon smiling is considered esthetically displeasing consequently; some patients are self-conscious, embarrassed or even psychologically affected.The present study was conducted on thirty patients showing excessive gingival display who were randomly equally divided into three groups. Ten patients received surgical lip repositioningin Group I, ten patients were treated with surgical lip repositioning and muscles severance in Group II while ten patients were treated by surgical muscle ligation of the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle in Group III.The aim of the current study was to compare the three surgical approaches for the treatment of gummy smilesin regards of the clinical outcome, the long-term stability as well as the patient satisfaction. The measurements of the soft tissue changes were obtained clinically and from standardized digital photographs preoperatively, one, three, six and twelve months postoperatively. As well as measuring post-operative pain through visual analog scale and patient’s satisfaction by patient satisfaction survey. Analyzing the data resulted in all three techniques displayed predictable short-term outcome. The results showed significant decrease in gingival display in all three groups at 1 month postoperative and continued the significant decrease only in Group (I) at 3 month postoperatively; however, gradual relapse occurred afterwards until almost complete relapse observed in all three groups during the six and twelve months follow up visits.