Vertical Gingival Display Changes Associated With Upper Premolars Extraction

Vertical Gingival Display Changes Associated With Upper Premolars Extraction Orthodontic Treatment in Gummy Smile Patients: A Prospective Clinical Trial

To investigate and compare vertical gingival display (VGD) changes associated with upper premolars extraction during orthodontic treatment.

Seventy-six subjects who met the inclusion criteria were divided into one of 3 groups according to their treatment modalities as follows: group 1: upper first premolars extraction (24 patients, aged 21.56±3.19 years); group 2: upper second premolars extraction (26 patients, aged 22.16±3.59 years) and group 3: no orthodontic intervention was performed (happy with their teeth) (26 subjects, aged 20.45±3.29 years).

Initial records (radiographs, study casts and clinical photographs) were taken for all subjects. The same records were taken post treatment for treated subjects only. The Pre- and post- treatment VGD and lip length in static and dynamic positions and the amount of upper teeth retractions were recorded.

The paired t-test and ANOVA test were used to detect treatment changes and differences between studied groups, respectively. Factors affecting VGD were investigated using backward stepwise linear regression analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 17 years or more
• skeletal class I or class II malocclusion
• upper premolars extraction treatment plan
• high smile line 2mm or more
• no previous orthodontic treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• poor oral hygiene
• lower arch extraction treatment plan
• smoking
• Any systemic or periodiontal disease.