In the case of the 25-year-old Asian (Filipina) woman pictured in Figs. 1 through 8, the primary etiologies were APE, HUL, and VME.
Fig. 1: Preoperative full-smile view showing excessive gingival display.
Fig. 2: Measurement of gingival display in smile showing 6.75 mm of visible attached gingiva.
For this patient, CL via a gingivectomy only was necessary to expose the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) as the osseous crest is 2 mm to 3 mm apical to the facial CEJ (Figs. 3 and 4).
Fig. 3: Intraoperative view after gingivectomy/-plasty, teeth Nos. 3 through 8.
Fig. 4: Post-gingivectomy/-plasty view, teeth Nos. 3 through 14.
An elliptical incision removes a partial-thickness segment of vestibular mucosa and contiguous attached gingiva in a 2:1 ratio (Figs. 5 and 6).
Fig. 5: Planned mucogingival incision outlined with marking pen.
Fig. 6: Mucogingival incision after excision of combined full and split-thickness flap.