Eslam Osama Mohamed Hashem¹, Abdallah Abdelnabi Aref¹, Doaa Adel-Khattab¹*, Mohamed Samy Zaki² and Ahmed Elsayed Hamed Amr¹

¹ Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology and Oral Diagnosis, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt ² Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

*Corresponding Author: Doaa Adel Khattab, Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology and Oral Diagnosis, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Received: October 06, 2025; Published: October 29, 2025

Abstract

Excessive gingival display, commonly termed “gummy smile”, is a frequent esthetic concern that can adversely impact facial harmony and patient confidence. Etiologies range from altered passive eruption and dentoalveolar extrusion to hyperactive upper lip and ver tical maxillary excess. Traditional free-hand and guided gingivectomy techniques have long been employed to address altered passive eruption; however, their predictability is limited by operator variability. With the advent of digital dentistry-including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), intraoral scanning, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and 3D printing-fully digital guided gingivectomy has emerged as a promising alternative. This review synthesizes current evidence comparing free-hand, conventional guided, and digital guided gingivectomy in managing gummy smile. Literature demonstrates that guided workflows particularly digital-enhance precision, reduce operative time, and improve patient communication through virtual simulations. Clini cal trials further indicate superior esthetic outcomes with digital methods, though equipment costs and training remain barriers. Conventional guided techniques retain relevance due to their simplicity and accessibility. Future research should emphasize long term stability, cost-benefit analyses, and integration of artificial intelligence–driven smile design.

Keywords: Gummy smile; Gingivectomy; Digital dentistry; Surgical guide; Crown lengthening; Esthetic dentistry; Periodontal sur gery

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Citation

Citation: Doaa Adel-Khattab., et al. “Guided Gingivectomy for Gummy Smile: Conventional versus Digital Approaches". Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 9.11 (2025): 67-72.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Doaa Adel-Khattab., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.