Gingival phenotype of Vietnamese's anterior maxillary teeth: A descriptive cross-sectional study

The "periodontal phenotype" varies based on nationality, ethnicity, and oral location. The study aimed to evaluate the gingival thickness and keratinized tissue width of the anterior maxillary teeth in the Vietnamese population. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study (n = 65 participants, 390 teeth). To assess gingival thickness, we employed the probe transparency method, based on the visibility of differently colored probes through the gingival tissue; thickness was categorized as thin, average, thick, or very thick. The KTW was measured by the Rolling test method. Based on the mixed-effects model, the estimated mean KTW was 5.31 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.12-5.50) in participants aged ≤25 years and 5.14 mm (95% CI: 4.67-5.61) in those >25 years (P = .38). The model-based mean KTW for males was 5.21 mm (95% CI: 5.00-5.42) and for females was 5.32 mm (95% CI: 5.10-5.54) (P = .49). The overall mean KTW of anterior maxillary teeth was 5.27 ± 1.11 mm. Thin gingiva was the most prevalent phenotype, with a generalized estimating equations-based estimated prevalence of 71.3% (95% CI: 66.2%-76.0%). The most common gingival phenotype in Vietnamese individuals was "thin" Participants with thin gingiva tended to have a wider KTW, while age and sex had no significant effect.