Comparative Evaluation of Selected Methods for Assessing Gingival Phenotype

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Dental diagnostics

Background:

• Accurate assessment of gingival phenotype is crucial for dental clinicians.
• Multiple methods exist for evaluating gingival phenotype, necessitating an optimal approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare visual assessment (VA) and the periodontal probe transparency method (PTM) for gingival phenotype analysis.
• To determine if the PTM is superior to VA in maxillary central incisors.

Main Methods:

• 103 healthy individuals (22-29 years) underwent gingival phenotype assessment.
• Examiners used VA and PTM with color-coded probes.
• Direct measurement (DM) via biometric ultrasonography served as a reference.

Main Results:

• Strong correlations (r = 0.62-0.76, p < 0.001) were found between VA, PTM, and DM.
• Medium to high agreement existed between VA and DM (r = 0.62-0.74, p < 0.001).
• Medium to strong correlation was observed between VA and PTM (r = 0.63-0.76, p < 0.001), showing no superiority of PTM.

Conclusions:

• Both visual assessment and the periodontal probe transparency method are reliable for identifying gingival phenotype.
• These methods demonstrate consistency with direct biometric measurements in the maxillary anterior region.