Focused Clinical Question: How should cases of altered passive and active eruption be diagnosed, classified, and treated?Summary: Frequently, a “gummy smile” contributes to esthetic problems and is caused by several factors such as vertical maxillary growth, dentoalveolar extrusion, short upper lip, upper lip hyperactivity, altered passive eruption (APE), or a combination of these factors. APE is a genetic or developmental condition characterized by coronal positioning of the gingival margin over enamel, resulting in short clinical crowns. Active eruption is defined as tooth movement in the occlusal direction as the tooth erupts from its osseous crypt. Altered active eruption (AAE) occurs when teeth achieve the opposite relationship to the occlusal plane prematurely and the osseous crest is on or very close to the cemento‐enamel junction. Thus, correct understanding of biologic events related to APE and AAE should be considered in the classification of a gummy smile. This article proposes a modification of a previous clinical classification and provides a surgical guide for treatment planning of cases involving APE and/or AAE. Periodontal biotypes are also taken into consideration.Conclusions: This article proposes modification of a previous classification dealing with two eruptive processes known as AAE and APE. Clinical cases and schemes enable understanding and treatment planning of different conditions.