PMC7908332_01
excessive gingival display preoperatively
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F1
Intraorally a good amount of attached gingiva was seen, and the patient was diagnosed with a case of "gummy smile." However, when the patient was asked to smile, his teeth were visible from maxillary right first molar to maxillary left first premolar with 7-8 mm gingival display and the maxillary anterior teeth had normal anatomic proportions (Figure 1, Figure 2).
close-up smile, left lateral view
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F2
Intraorally a good amount of attached gingiva was seen, and the patient was diagnosed with a case of "gummy smile." However, when the patient was asked to smile, his teeth were visible from maxillary right first molar to maxillary left first premolar with 7-8 mm gingival display and the maxillary anterior teeth had normal anatomic proportions (Figure 1, Figure 2).
the tissue was removed via a partial thickness dissection with tissue removal from first molar to first molar
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F3
A partial thickness incision was made between these two lines, and epithelial band approximately 10-12 mm wide was excised leaving underlying connective tissue exposed (Figure 3).
final suturing for stabilization of the new mucosal margin to the gingiva
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F4
The mucosal flap was advanced and multiple interrupted sutures at 1 mm were taken at the midline and other locations along the borders of the incision mucogingival junction using 3-0 vicryl sutures (Figure 4).
immediately postoperatively view with moderate smile
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F5
Immediately postoperatively significant improvement in the patient facial and smile was observed (Figure 5).
postoperatively clinical view at 12-month follow-up
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F6
However, a partial relapse was observed after 12 months (Figure 6).