Background: Gingival biotypes have been reported to influence the outcome of restorative therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of different morphometric parameters with the thickness of the buccal gingiva and alveolar bone at different apico-coronal levels.
Methods: In 60 periodontally healthy subjects, the central maxillary incisor was examined. Clinical parameters included the crown width/crown length ratio (CW/CL), gingival width (GW), gingival scallop (SC) and transparency of the periodontal probe through the gingival sulcus (TRAN). Gingival and alveolar bone dimensions were assessed on parallel profile radiographs.
Results: Crown width/crown length ratio was positively correlated with the thickness of the gingiva at the cementoenamel junction (G3) (r = 0.47) and to the thickness of the alveolar crest (A1) (r = 0.46); whereas SC had a weak negative and GW had a moderate positive correlation with all radiographic measurements. TRAN had a stronger negative relation to the thickness at the free gingiva (r = -0.42) than to other tissue thicknesses. All gingival thickness values were correlated with A1 value. Multivariate models identified CW/CL and GW as significant predictors for G3 value, whereas CW/CL was a significant predictor for A1 value.
Conclusion: Crown width/crown length ratio and GW could represent surrogate parameters to anticipate the gingival thickness at the cementoenamel junction, whereas CW/CL might also be an indicator for alveolar bone crest thickness. Periodontal probing has a limited prognostic value for these tissue dimensions.
Keywords: alveolar bone; crown form; gingival biotype; gingival thickness.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.