A gummy smile, or excessive gingival display, is a common esthetic concern among adult patients and can result from multiple factors, including vertical maxillary excess, altered passive eruption, or excessive anterior dentoalveolar height. Traditional treatment options, such as orthognathic surgery or crown lengthening, may be invasive, costly, and require long recovery periods. Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) have emerged as a highly effective and minimally invasive alternative for gummy smile correction, allowing for controlled anterior intrusion without compromising posterior occlusion.

By placing TADs in the anterior maxilla—either interradicularly or in the palatal region—orthodontists can apply intrusive forces directly to the upper incisors, reducing gingival display and achieving a more harmonious smile. This approach facilitates true anterior intrusion rather than simple extrusion of the posterior teeth, ensuring a stable and esthetically pleasing result. Additionally, TADs eliminate the need for patient compliance with extraoral appliances and minimize unwanted side effects such as molar extrusion or mandibular clockwise rotation.

Long-term stability in gummy smile correction with TADs depends on precise biomechanics, proper retention strategies, and soft tissue adaptation. Studies have shown that anterior intrusion using skeletal anchorage leads to significant and lasting improvements in smile esthetics when combined with appropriate retention protocols. As orthodontic techniques continue to evolve, TADs remain an essential tool for clinicians seeking a predictable, efficient, and non-surgical solution to gummy smile correction in adult patients.