A study to evaluate the prevalence of teeth without clinically detectable mucogingival junction

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Oral Anatomy
• Dental Implantology

Background:

• The mucogingival junction (MGJ) marks the apical boundary of attached gingiva, crucial for periodontal health.
• Its presence is vital in dental implantology, yet studies on its absence are scarce.
• Anatomic variations and pathologies can lead to the absence of a detectable MGJ.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of teeth lacking a clinically detectable MGJ.
• To investigate the occurrence of absent MGJ on the buccal aspect of dentate alveolar processes.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study involving 130 subjects (3637 teeth).
• MGJ detection utilized visual inspection, tension test, rolling probe, and Lugol's iodine.
• Absence confirmed by at least two methods; etiology was also assessed.

Main Results:

• 32 subjects (24.6%) exhibited teeth without a clinically detectable MGJ.
• Only 91 teeth (2.5% of total) lacked a detectable MGJ.
• The average prevalence per subject was 0.7 teeth without detectable MGJ.

Conclusions:

• Nearly 25% of the population may have one or more teeth without a clinically detectable MGJ.
• The per-mouth prevalence of teeth lacking MGJ is low, averaging less than one tooth.
• Understanding MGJ prevalence is important for periodontal health and implant dentistry.