Gingivectomy in patient with gingival smile and altered passive eruption

Abstract

Alterations in passive eruption where the anatomical crown of the tooth is covered by excess soft tissue are situations that often occur. Excessive gingiva when smiling depends on many factors, such as the excessive vertical dimension of the upper jaw and dental malpositions due to a significant overbite. Treatment modalities range from gingivectomy and flap elevation for the removal of excess bone, aiming to achieve satisfactory results for the patient. The objective of this article is to report a clinical case using the surgical technique called gingivectomy in the treatment for altered passive eruption and gingival smile. The literature search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scielo, and Elsevier, using specific translated keywords, with the aim of obtaining studies with solid scientific support relevant to the topic of this case report. It was found that the patient showed a positive outcome. It is concluded that the patient remains under constant supervision with excellent aesthetic results; periodic dental plaque control and dental prophylaxis are recommended. A gingivectomy along with an osteotomy, as referred by some authors, are effective surgical techniques, provided their limitations are known; it is also a procedure in which a percentage of recurrence can be reduced.