Relationship Between Gingival Thickness and Other Periodontal Phenotypic Features: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Periodontology
• Oral Anatomy

Background:

• Gingival thickness (GT) is a crucial factor in periodontal health and esthetics.
• Understanding GT variations and their correlation with local phenotypic features is essential for predictable clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize buccal gingival thickness (GT) in the maxillary anterior region.
• To investigate correlations between GT and periodontal supracrestal tissue height (STH), cementoenamel junction to alveolar bone crest distance (CEJ-BC), and tooth dimensions.

Main Methods:

• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 100 adult subjects (600 maxillary anterior teeth).
• Assessment of buccal GT at multiple apicocoronal levels.
• Measurement of STH, CEJ-BC, and buccolingual tooth dimensions.

Main Results:

• GT varied significantly with apicocoronal level, tooth type, and gender, increasing apically.
• Maxillary central incisors and males showed thicker GT; females had thinner GT and shorter STH.
• Narrower buccolingual tooth dimensions correlated with thicker GT. Thin gingival phenotypes (GP) were associated with greater CEJ-BC and wider teeth, while thick GPs had taller STH and narrower teeth.

Conclusions:

• Gingival thickness is a complex trait influenced by anatomical and demographic factors.
• Distinct correlations exist between gingival phenotypes, tooth dimensions, and periodontal parameters.
• These findings provide valuable insights for periodontal diagnosis and treatment planning.