Physiologic pigmentation of the gingiva in Israeli Jews of different ethnic origin

The prevalence of gingival physiologic pigmentation in three ethnic groups of a total of 2,465 Israeli Jews were determined. The distribution of this gingival pigmentation, according to anatomic parts and divisions, was examined. Results showed the presence of gingival pigmentation in 57.9% of the Eastern group, 49.3% of the Sephardic group, and 21.1% of the Ashkenazi group. No indication of sex predilection was found. The most common site of pigmentation was the labial part of the gingiva, and the attached gingiva was the most common pigmented anatomic division. The group of Eastern Jews showed the highest prevalence of physiologic pigmentation in each of the anatomic parts and divisions of the gingiva.