Lip Repositioning Surgery: A Simple Smile and Life Transformation Procedure

Area of Science:

• * Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• * Cosmetic Dentistry

Background:

• * Excessive gingival display, or gummy smiles, can cause significant aesthetic concerns and emotional distress.
• * Gummy smile surgery is increasingly popular, with lip repositioning emerging as a novel, less invasive technique.
• * Lip repositioning offers a simpler alternative to extensive surgeries, providing camouflage and reducing complications.

Observation:

• * This case report details the successful treatment of a gummy smile characterized by excessive gum exposure.
• * The procedure involved removing a partial-thickness mucosal strip from the maxillary buccal vestibule and suturing the lip lining to the gingival margin.
• * The labial frenulum was intentionally excluded from the surgical site.

Findings:

• * Lip repositioning effectively reduced excessive gum exposure and corrected unevenness in the gummy smile.
• * The technique proved to be minimally invasive, yielding a pleasing aesthetic result.
• * Long-lasting results were observed, with a low likelihood of recurrence after a 14-month follow-up period.

Implications:

• * Lip repositioning presents a viable, minimally invasive surgical option for gummy smile correction.
• * The procedure offers a favorable aesthetic outcome with reduced postoperative complications and a low recurrence rate.
• * This technique provides a valuable alternative for patients seeking to address excessive gingival display.