Double guide concept: A new digital paradigm for the treatment of altered passive eruption in patients with high esthetic expectations.

Abstract

Digital guides (also known as stents) have become commonly used in daily dental practice. CBCT, digital impressions, and stereolithographic models are considered extremely helpful to create guides for the planning and resolution of surgical cases. In recent years, in periodontal surgery and in particular for the treatment of altered passive eruption (APE), there has been an increasing use of digitally designed guides to improve esthetic outcomes and achieve more predictable results. Digital custom-made guides can be used to improve safety and precision in crown lengthening procedures in patients with APE who have high esthetic expectations. Although most approaches described in the literature show guides used for primary flap or gingivectomy design, the precision of bone recontouring and ostectomy plays a key role in soft tissue rebound and in the final esthetic outcome. The present article describes a new approach using two different guides for soft tissue design in patients with APE.