Lip repositioning with or without myotomy: A randomized clinical trial

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Cosmetic Dentistry

Background:

• Excess gingival display (EGD), commonly known as a gummy smile, affects smile aesthetics.
• Lip repositioning is a conservative surgical technique to correct EGD by restricting upward lip movement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and stability of lip repositioning versus lip repositioning with muscle severance for treating EGD.
• To evaluate outcomes including EGD reduction, lip length changes, and long-term stability.

Main Methods:

• A single-blinded, controlled, parallel-group randomized clinical trial (RCT) involving 20 patients with EGD.
• Patients underwent either standard lip repositioning or lip repositioning with muscle severance.
• Outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months, including EGD reduction, lip length, pain, swelling, and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Both techniques reduced EGD; lip repositioning with muscle severance showed a greater mean reduction (3.57mm) compared to classic lip repositioning (2.73mm).
• Lip length, pain, and swelling were comparable between the two groups.
• Muscle severance demonstrated more stable results at the 12-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Lip repositioning is a viable treatment for EGD.
• Lip repositioning combined with muscle severance provides superior long-term stability for correcting gummy smiles.
• Further research is warranted to fully evaluate the long-term effects and indications for muscle severance in EGD treatment.