Abstract :
When there is an exposure of gingival tissue of more than 2 mm while smiling is said to be gummy smile. There are various etiological factors that cause a gummy smile and there could be a relationship with heredity as an etiology for gummy smile.
Aim: To evaluate the relationship between gummy smile and heredity.
Materials and Methods: A sample of 100 patients of age between 10 to 25 years were selected based on the presence of a gummy smile of more than 2mm and the gummy smile was measured. Frontal photographs of patients with gummy smile of more than 2 mm were taken. Similarly, both the parents were also photographed. A detailed history of gummy smile running in the family for last two generations was recorded. The patients were then divided into two groups, namely, Group A (patients with gummy smile having a familial background) and Group B (patients with gummy smile not having a familial background).
Results: From the study 48% of the patients had gummy smile with a familial etiology and 52% of the patients had gummy smile without familial etiology which indicates heredity is not a significant etiological factor for gummy smile.
Conclusion: Eventhough a small percentage of patients did show a familial tendency of gummy smile, the majority of 52% of the subjects with gummy smile had no hereditary etiology , suggesting that the gummy smile did not exhibit hereditary pattern.
Keyword :
Familial background, Gummysmile, Heredity.