The influence of a gummy smile on lip seal.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of excessive gingival display on lip seal.


METHODS
Eighteen individuals with gummy smiles and poor lip seal were submitted to orofacial myofunctional assessment and surface electromyography in order to verify the action potential amplitude of mentalis muscle action generated during muscular exertion. Periodontal surgery was performed to remove excessive gingival tissue and bone volume from the pre-maxilla, and after 6 months, the patients were re-evaluated.


RESULTS
Decreased contraction and tensing of the mentalis muscle (chin dimpling) was clinically observed when attempting lip seal and electromyographical analysis revealed a statistically significant difference among action potential values during muscular exertion to achieve lip contact.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that lip seal is influenced by gingival bone volume and that surgical removal contributed to a smoother contact between the lips.
dos Santos
Giselle Gasparino
GG
Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN, Natal-RN, Brazil. gigasparino@uol.com.br
Rego
Delane Maria
DM
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012904:Smiling; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires