Clinical short crowns: A report on perioplastic management of altered passive eruption of three cases

Abstract

A gummy smile is a frequent encounter in patients requiring esthetic treatment. A common cause for it is a coronally situated gingival complex that failed to recede normally during eruption known as altered passive eruption (APE). The biggest challenge lies in the determination of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and knowledge of the periodontal plastic surgical methods to eliminate the condition. A careful preoperative planning is necessary to avoid complications, enhance postsurgical stability of the gingival margin, and bring about biological harmony. This case series brings forward the surgical management of three cases of APE treated with different techniques, with a 3–9-month follow-up. The correction of the gummy smile resulted in a significant improvement in the esthetics along with suitable hard and soft-tissue harmony. These cases illustrate the predictability of such treatment through a proper diagnosis and treatment planning.

Keywords

• Altered passive eruption
• esthetics
• gummy smile