Altered passive eruption diagnosis and treatment: a cone beam computed tomography-based reappraisal of the condition.

AIM To characterize anatomical features of altered passive eruption (APE)-affected teeth using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to present a novel combined surgical approach to its correction. CLINICAL INNOVATION REPORT Eighty-four teeth from 14 subjects affected by APE were subjected to CBCT. Periodontal variables were recorded before surgery, and anatomical variables were measured on CBCTs. Clinical crown length was measured on study casts. Surgical treatment was carried out based on the lengths of the anatomical crowns transferred to a surgical guide that served as a reference for the incisions. The mean distance between the CEJ and the bone crest was on average <1 mm, facial bone thickness was ≥ 1 mm and soft tissue thickness was >1 mm for every tooth analysed; no association between the soft and the hard tissue thicknesses was observed. CONCLUSION The CBCT can be used in the diagnosis and treatment planning of APE cases. Anatomically, the APE cases described often presented a thick facial bone plate.