Gingival aesthetics: depigmentation, crown lengthening basics
Aesthetic Dentistry Basics · Dental (BDS)
Study notes
A gummy smile shows 5mm of gingiva. Why might crown lengthening (not just lip treatment) be indicated? Altered passive eruption - the gingiva covers enamel that should show; surgical recontouring exposes the anatomic crown. Students learn diagnosis-first aesthetics: gummy smile causes (excess gingiva, short lip, vertical maxillary excess) each have different treatments - the scalpel suits excess tissue, orthognathic suits skeletal excess; treating the wrong cause disappoints.