The Supracrestal Tissue Height: A Fundamental Component of the Periodontal Phenotype.

Abstract

The concept of the periodontal phenotype has become central to diagnosis, prognosis, treatment planning, and clinical decision-making in contemporary dentistry. At present, the most widely ac-cepted definition of the periodontal phenotype encompasses both the gingival phenotype, which includes the width of keratinized tissue and the thickness of the gingiva, as well as the bone mor-photype, particularly the thickness of the alveolar bone. Although this represents a meaningful ad-vancement over earlier classification methods, a critical element remains overlooked: the supra- crestal tissue height (STH). This dynamic and site-specific dimension extending from the gingival margin to the alveolar crest carries significant clinical implications. Its correlation with other phe-notypic parameters and its relevance across periodontal, restorative, orthodontic, and implant ther-apies justify recognizing the STH as a foundational component of the periodontal phenotype.