Pink Aesthetics: Gummy Smiles and Gingival Recession

The ideal smile is one where there is harmony between the 'white' (tooth) and 'pink' (periodontal) aesthetics. The developments in the field of periodontology have enhanced aesthetic outcomes when managing excessive gingival exposure in a 'gummy' smile or excessive tooth exposure in gingival recession cases. This paper aims to outline the aetiology, classification, and management of both a 'gummy' smile and gingival recession, putting a spotlight on aesthetics.