Changes in the gingival structure of maxillary permanent teeth related to the orthodontic correction of simple...

The aim of this study was to describe changes in the gingival structure of maxillary permanent teeth related to correction of anterior crossbites. Twenty-eight children with one tooth in crossbite were included in the study. An oral hygiene program, was established. The tooth in crossbite (X tooth) and its contralateral (C tooth) were examined before the beginning of treatment, immediately after, 3 and 6 months after crossbite correction. The plaque index (PII) of the X tooth decreased from the first to the last examination. The PII of the C tooth increased during treatment and decreased after it. The gingival index (GI) and probing depth (PD) of both teeth increased during treatment and decreased after it. The width of the keratinized gingiva (KG) of both teeth decreased from the first to the last examination. The width of the attached gingiva (AG) of the X tooth decreased from the first to the last examination, and of the C tooth between the first and second examination. Analyses of variance of the values of the four examinations were significant in the X tooth for GI, PD, KG, and AG, and in the C tooth for GI and AG. The differences between the C and X teeth in the four examinations were significant in PD, KG, and AG. The current study indicates that orthodontic labial displacement of maxillary tooth related to the correction of simple anterior crossbite, under an oral hygiene program, is innocuous to the periodontium.