Treatment of a "Gummy Smile": Understanding Etiology is Key to Success.

When dealing with excessive gingival display it is important for the treating clinician to properly identify the etiology, as potential etiologic factors can vary widely. Treatment decisions in this case involving a patient with high lip dynamics and a "gummy smile" were complicated because treatment recommendations differed for each of the several etiologies involved. The treatment performed, which included orthodontics combined with crown lengthening and in which the final restorations were segmented anterior to posterior to give both the clinician and laboratory improved control, was designed to meet the patient's desired esthetic outcome while addressing the areas of risk established in the preoperative assessment.