# The greatest esthetic challenge for the restorative dentist occurs in the patient having a:
A. High smile line, thick periodontal biotype
B. Low smile line, thin periodontal biotype
C. Low smile line, thick periodontal biotype
D. High smile line, thin periodontal biotype
The correct answer is D. High Smile line, thin periodontal biotype
A low smile line indicates that the patient does not lift the lip upwards when smiling to
the extent that the gingival-restorative interface can be seen by the observer. Consequently,
esthetic compromises may be more acceptable to the patient because they are not routinely
visible. A thick periodontal biotype indicates that the patient has thicker, denser gingiva with a less pronounced scallop. This type of tissue is more resistant to the recession caused by restorative procedures and materials, a lower chance of "show-through" of the implant or abutment, and a lower chance of loss of the papillae adjacent to the implant.