title: Esthetic crown lengthening: appropriate diagnosis for achieving gingival balance.
abstract: A gummy smile poses a restorative challenge for dentists attempting to achieve ideal esthetics. Many have advocated the use of a gingivectomy or laser-assisted gingival contouring procedure. However, this simplistic approach can potentially create a mucogingival defect or a biological width violation. To avoid these periodontal-restorative complications, it is important during treatment planning to assess the anatomical relationship that resulted in the gummy smile and choose the appropriate surgical treatment to eliminate this condition.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dault
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frangadakis
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Salehieh
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016556:Crown Lengthening; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012904:Smiling; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014078:Tooth Eruption / Q000502:physiology