Lip repositioning technique. A simple surgical procedure to improve the smile harmony

Excessive gingival display is an esthetic concern for patients. It is a condition in which an overexposure of the maxillary gingiva (>3mm) is present during smiling. There are different etiologies of a gummy smile, such as vertical maxillary excess, short and hyperactive upper lip, altered passive eruption, anterior dentoalveolar extrusion, or a combination of these causes. The correct diagnosis of all etiologic factors is imperative for its appropriate management. Many techniques have been used to restore the dentogingival relation for the management of gummy smile. Lip repositioning is a conservative surgical technique used to treat excess gingival display. It is a largely unknown treatment modality. This limits lip elevation on smiling and increases lip fullness. This technique was designed to be shorter, less aggressive and to have fewer postoperative complications compared to orthognathic surgery. In the current case series presents three patients who were successfully managed with lip repositioning. The aim of this article is to describe the lip repositioning technique to decrease gummy smile by a simple surgical procedure. Key words:Lip repositioning, gummy smile, smile harmony.