Risk assessment for buccal gingival recession defects in an adult population

Little is known about systemic, environmental, and periodontal risk factors of gingival recessions. This study identifies variables related to buccal gingival recessions in an adult French population; this study uses data collected in the First National Periodontal and Systemic Examination Survey.

This cross-sectional survey includes 2,074 subjects (age range: 35 to 65 years) from a nationally representative sample obtained by a quota method stratified by age, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic areas. The subjects had undergone a full-mouth periodontal examination, assessment of missing teeth, laboratory tests, and questionnaires. In the present analysis, the buccal gingival recession status of each subject was the outcome of interest and was assessed by criteria based on the severity and extent of gingival recessions.

A total of 84.6% of the sample had at least one gingival recession. A multivariate linear regression model with backward selection showed that age (P >0.001), gender (P = 0.003), plaque index (P <0.001), and tobacco consumption (P <0.001) were associated with the extent of gingival recession. In addition to these variables, the number of missing teeth (P <0.001) and the gingival bleeding index (P = 0.010) were also associated with the severity of gingival recession.

This study indicates that the risk factors for gingival recessions are similar to the traditional risk factors for periodontitis. However, the present model indicates that diabetes, increase of the body mass index, and alcohol intake are not associated with gingival recessions.