Laser-Assisted Gingivectomy to Treat Gummy Smile

Dent Clin North Am. 2022 Jul;66(3):399-417. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2022.02.004. Epub 2022 May 31.

Abstract

Excessive gingival display (EGD) is the extensive exposure of the gingiva during a smile. It is a common concern among patients, which may compromise the esthetic outcome of the dental treatment. Dental lasers demonstrate several advantages for soft tissue dental surgery compared with conventional surgical methods related to their technical characteristics. Owing to the excellent coagulation, especially of the surgical lasers, reduced to no need of anesthesia or suturing and faster healing, they demonstrate optimal clinical results. Nevertheless, good knowledge of laser-tissue interaction is required to obtain the best predictable results without gingival recession or bone tissue damage.

Keywords: Altered passive eruption; Excessive gingival display; Gummy smile; Laser crown lengthening; Laser gingivectomy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Esthetics, Dental
  • Gingiva / surgery
  • Gingivectomy*
  • Humans
  • Lasers
  • Smiling*