Dentogingival complex: dimension based on biotypes

Estimate the DGC dimensions and determine whether the DGC dimension varies by gingival biotype.

A cross-sectional study was performed in the Undergraduate and Prosthodontic Graduate Program clinics of the School of Dental Medicine, University of Puerto Rico from August 2011 to April 2012. A total of 53 participants who needed restorative crowns in their teeth were recruited. Prior to crown preparation, the gingiva was classified as having a thin, mixed or thick biotype, according to transparency, using a standardized 15 UNC Hu-Friedy periodontal probe. The DGC dimension was measured by transulcus probing. Descriptive statistics were calculated in mesial, medial, and distal sites by phenotypes. Differences between and within the sites' DGC dimension mean were determined using a Friedman test. The level of significance was 0.05.

Mean DGC dimensions, in millimeters, for all sites measured were: 3.09 (95% CI: 2.91-3.27), 3.40 (95% CI: 3.18-3.62), 2.70 (95% CI: 2.51-2.89), and 3.17 (95% CI: 2.94-3.41) in mesial, medial, and distal sites, respectively. In thick, mixed, and thin biotypes the mesial sites showed greater DGC dimension means than the medial and distal (p<0.05) sites. Mean DGC dimension was greater for the thin compared to mixed and thick biotypes at mesial, medial and distal sites (p<0.001). Nevertheless, the thick biotype presented the smallest DGC mean dimensions compared to mixed and thin biotypes at the same sites.

The DGC dimensions in all sites were similar to those reported in the literature. DGC dimensions are different for thin, mixed and thick gingival biotypes.