Resumen

CHACON MARTINEZ, H. et al. Simplifying the surgical treatment of the gummy smile. Cir. plást. iberolatinoam. [online]. 2011, vol.37, n.1, pp.43-49. ISSN 1989-2055.

Human beings possess a highly expressive face, there are people who when smile, show the gums above the base of the teeth causing an antiesthetic aspect. This situation has negative repercussions altering the spontaneity of the facial expression. In the etiology of the gingival smile, dental, skeletal and soft tissue factors take part. We present a new surgical variant that offers an excellent alternative for the treatment of the gingival smile with soft tissue alterations. Fifteen female patients were treated; 7 had rhinoplasty together with correction of gingival smile; the remaining 8 patients were exclusively gingival smile surgery; ages varied from 17 to 38 years. All the treated improved their appearance and selfesteem. There were no complications or problems related to the wound. The results are permanent in the medium and long term and the patient's smile is normal because of improvement of their expression, maintaining muscular function and sensitivity. The proposed technique is simple, easily reproducible, ambulatory and with an average operating time of one hour. It is well tolerated by the patients since it does not interfere with their daily activities.

Palabras clave : Gingival smile; Short lip; Long lip.

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