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Updated: Feb 9, 2026
06:47
Isolation and Culture of Primary Human Gingival Epithelial Cells using Y-27632
Published on: November 6, 2021
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Clinical study on natural gingival color.
Cristina Gómez-Polo1, Javier Montero2, Miguel Gómez-Polo3
1School of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. crisgodent@usal.es.
Odontology
|May 31, 2018
Summary
Gingival color varies significantly between males and females across different sites of the keratinized gingiva. These subtle, perceptible color differences within the gingival band are important for prosthetic applications.
Area of Science:
- Oral biology
- Dental aesthetics
- Color science in dentistry
Background:
- Gingival color is a key factor in dental aesthetics and prosthetic restorations.
- Understanding variations in gingival color is crucial for achieving natural-looking results.
- Previous studies have not fully detailed intrasubject and intersubject variations in gingival color across different sites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize gingival color at three specific sites on the upper incisors using the CIELAB system.
- To analyze how socio-demographic and behavioral factors influence gingival color variability.
- To investigate differences in gingival color within the keratinized gingiva band (intrasubject) and between individuals (intersubject).
Main Methods:
- A spectrophotometer (Shadepilot™) was used to measure gingival color coordinates (L*, a*, b*) in 259 individuals.
- Three reference areas were studied: free gingival margin, keratinized gingival body, and the upper part of the keratinized gingiva.
- Data on socio-demographic factors, oral habits, and medication intake were collected and analyzed statistically.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences in L* and a* coordinates were found between males and females at the middle and free gingival margin.
- Significant differences in the b* coordinate were observed between sexes across all three studied locations (p < 0.05).
- Age, smoking, and chronic medication intake did not significantly affect gum color; however, perceptible intrasubject color differences were noted within the keratinized gingiva band.
Conclusions:
- Gingival color exhibits significant intersubject variability, particularly between males and females, across different sites of the keratinized gingiva.
- Perceptible intrasubject color differences exist within the keratinized gingiva band.
- These chromatic variations must be considered for successful prosthetic characterization of gingival tissues.
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