This patient presented with eight veneers previously placed without addressing her gummy smile. The previous treatment attempted to achieve “golden proportions,” which we regard as a guideline rather than a standard. In this case, prioritizing those proportions resulted in teeth that were disproportionately long.
By the time the patient came to us, her veneers were 10 years old and exhibited signs of failure. The black discoloration at the margins indicated microleakage. Additionally, there was noticeable gum swelling, evidenced by a red ring around the tissue, caused by biologic width impingement from excessively thick margins.
We removed the old veneers and redesigned her smile. The incisal edge position was shortened to prevent elongation of her face, and we broadened the arch for a more balanced appearance. We placed 12 new veneers on the upper arch and 10 on the lower, ensuring precise margins. In the after photo, the transformation is clear—the gums have transitioned from an unhealthy purple-red to a healthy light pink, signifying restored oral health.
