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

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize gingival thickness (GT) and determine correlations with other local phenotypic features. CBCT scans from adult subjects involving the maxillary anterior teeth were obtained to assess buccal GT at different apicocoronal levels, periodontal supracrestal tissue height (STH), the distance (CEJ-BC) from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the alveolar bone crest (BC), and buccolingual tooth dimensions. A total of 100 subjects and 600 maxillary anterior teeth comprised the study sample. Variations in mean GT values were observed as a function of apicocor-onal level, tooth type, and gender. GT progressively increased apically. Maxillary central incisors and men generally exhibited thicker GT. Contrarily, women exhibited thinner GT and shorter STH. Tooth dimensions were negatively correlated with GT, as a narrower tooth crown/root in the buccolingual dimension indicated thicker gingiva. GT at the CEJ level was dichotomized to differentiate between thin (< 1 mm) and thick (≥ 1 mm) gingival phenotypes (GP). Teeth with a thin GP displayed great er CEJ-BC and buccolingual tooth width dimensions. Conversely, teeth with a thick GP generally exhibited taller STH and narrower tooth dimensions.