For individuals with dental malocclusion, orthodontic treatment is generally used for correction, typically requiring 6 months to 1 year.Second, for individuals with maxillary protrusion, orthognathic surgery is typically employed to reposition the protruding maxilla to its normal position. This procedure requires precise measurements and specialized surgical instruments. It involves significant trauma, necessitates a longer recovery period, and carries certain risks, demanding high standards from both the surgeon and the hospital. However, orthognathic surgery possesses the remarkable ability to transform appearance, offering substantial aesthetic improvement for patients.For patients with a short upper lip, surgical augmentation can increase lip height (referring to the skin portion of the lip, excluding the vermilion border). Two approaches exist: intraoral and extraoral techniques. Patients should discuss their options thoroughly with their surgeon.
Gingival Contouring Techniques
1. Maxillary Protrusion
Patients with maxillary protrusion typically undergo orthognathic surgery to reposition the protruding maxilla to its normal position. This procedure requires precise measurements and specialized surgical instruments. It involves significant trauma, necessitates a longer recovery period, carries certain risks, and demands high standards from both the surgeon and the hospital.However, orthognathic surgery possesses transformative power, capable of significantly improving the patient's appearance.
2. Dental Malocclusion
Dental malocclusion is generally corrected through orthodontic treatment, which can be performed at dental hospitals or clinics. The process typically takes 6 months to 1 year;Some individuals opt for convenience by extracting or grinding down protruding teeth before installing porcelain crowns. This approach is inadvisable, as even the finest artificial teeth cannot match the functionality of natural teeth.Transoral Approach: Utilizes bilateral alar-nasal triangle flaps to elevate the upper lip. This method provides immediate height gain but leaves scarring at the nasolabial junction. Transoral Approach: Involves making an incision in the maxillary vestibular sulcus, identifying and transecting the bilateral levator labii superiori muscles, and appropriately extending the mucosal tissue at the frenulum to achieve upper lip relaxation.This method does not provide immediate upper lip elevation and requires long-term lip muscle exercises by the patient to be effective. Postoperative Care for Gingival Contouring Successful surgery relies on proper care. After gingival contouring, note the following: 1. Return to the hospital for a follow-up examination 4 to 5 days post-surgery to assess healing. 2. Avoid getting the surgical area wet for 7 days post-surgery.Third, maintain oral hygiene after one week by rinsing frequently to prevent infection. Fourth, avoid brushing the surgical area and refrain from eating hard foods. Normal brushing can typically resume after about one month. Third, eat bland foods and avoid irritants like chili peppers. Fourth, apply cold compresses to the wound site post-surgery, but avoid excessive pressure.