Efficacy of botulinum toxin for treating a gummy smile.

[INTRODUCTION] This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of botulinum toxin applied to the different muscles of patients who have excessive gingival display and to evaluate the return to baseline gingival exposure value.

[METHODS] Twenty-eight patients who had a gummy smile of more than 2 mm were randomly divided into 2 groups. Botulinum toxin was administered equally to the left and right of the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle of group 1 and the orbicularis oris site of group 2. Photographs were taken, and measurements were taken before injection and at 3 days, 15 days, 1 month, 4 months, 5 months, and 6 months after injection. The visual analogue scale was used to assess the level of satisfaction.

[RESULTS] The average amount of visible gingiva in group 1 was 4.92 mm at the beginning of the treatment and 1.92 mm on the 15th day. In group 2, the average amount of visible gingiva was 4.58 mm at the beginning of treatment and 2.16 mm on the 15th day. In both treatment groups, it was determined that the measurements on the sixth month did not return to their initial values. The decrease in gingival appearances in group 1 was greater than in group 2. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of return to baseline gingival exposure value. In both groups, it was seen that the increase in satisfaction in patients was high.

[CONCLUSIONS] For gummy smile correction, botulinum toxin injection is thought to be an alternative method because it is effective and conservative and has high patient satisfaction.