Introduction: Gingival veneers are custom-made, removable prostheses designed to cover the gum recession on the upper anterior teeth and thus improving the appearance of the patient’s smile. The surgical treatment to treat gum recession is sometimes uncomfortable, costly with prolonged healing time and unpredictable results, making it an unpopular choice. Gingival veneer is simple, non-invasive, economical, feasible and aesthetically acceptable.
Case Description: A 37-year-old gentleman with the complaint of elongated and excessive visibility of upper anterior discoloured tooth while smiling after open flap surgical debridement was done on 21. The tooth had a prolonged sinus tract and pus oozing from periodontal ligament space. Periodontal assessment revealed an increased probing pocket depths of 6mm on mesial and 5mm on labial. Gum recession is 3mm on the labial. The open flap debridement procedure was performed in November 2016. Infrabony defect of 15mm was seen on mesial and distal of 21. There was 16mm of bone loss over the labial surface. The gum recession became more severe, resulting in more displeasing aesthetic appearance, post-surgery. An acrylic gingival veneer was fabricated.
Discussion: Gum recession can be corrected surgically or non-surgically. Surgical cost, unpredictable results, healing time and discomfort have made the patient to opt for a relatively easy, inexpensive, fast and practical way to allow an aesthetic replacement of the gingiva by accepting gingival veneer.
Conclusion: With the fabrication of acrylic gingival veneer, the aesthetic characteristic of 21 can be improved when the loss of periodontal support is evident.