The main objective of periodontal surgery today is not only to eliminate bacterial infection and restore the patient's periodontal health, but also to correct unsightly periodontal deformities and thus harmonize the smile. Indeed, various periodontal plastic surgeries are essential in the treatment of muco-gingival problems and the elimination of gingival recessions, but also in the correction of the gummy smile.

This module will focus on the etiology, differential diagnosis, and clinical features associated with the gummy smile as well as the treatment options. We will detail procedures for cosmetic surgical coronal lengthening and repositioning of the upper lip with the goal of camouflaging a gummy smile or a hypermobile upper lip. These surgical procedures will be reviewed step by step in order to be able to perform these procedures effectively to achieve a permanent correction of the unsightly smile.

Next, we will discuss smile analysis, non-surgical control of etiologic factors, and surgical options for gingival grafts and mucoperiosteal flaps. We will discuss how these procedures will provide predictable and aesthetic coverage of exposed roots. We will review the periodontal surgical procedures accepted today to treat cases requiring gingival augmentation or correction of gingival recession; autogenous free epithelialize graft, connective tissue graft, and allogenic or xenogeneic graft.

Finally, numerous clinical cases will be discussed in order to promote an interactive approach on the solutions available today to treat more complex cases and give our patients the smile they deserve.