Gingival thickness and gingival width in children: a cross-sectional study utilizing ultrasonography

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontology
• Oral Health Research

Background:

• Gingival phenotype, including thickness (GT) and width (GW), is crucial for periodontal health.
• Limited data exists on gingival phenotype characteristics in healthy children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure gingival thickness (GT) and gingival width (GW) in healthy children.
• To investigate the associations of GT and GW with age, gender, tooth type, and dental arch.
• To explore the correlation between GT and GW in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Ultrasonic measurements and periodontal probes were used to assess GT and GW in 1029 teeth from 64 children.
• Mixed effects linear regression models analyzed associations with demographic and dental parameters.
• Spearman's correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between GT and GW.

Main Results:

• Gingival thickness was significantly greater in posterior vs. anterior teeth, permanent vs. primary teeth, and maxillary vs. mandibular teeth.
• Gingival width was significantly greater in posterior regions and the maxilla.
• Neither GT nor GW were significantly affected by gender or age, though a weak positive correlation between GT and GW was observed.

Conclusions:

• Gingival thickness and width in children show significant associations with arch and tooth type.
• These findings enhance understanding of pediatric gingival phenotype, an under-researched area.
• The study presents an accurate, painless, and simple method for gingival mapping in children.