Relationship Between Width and Thickness of Keratinized Gingival Tissue

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a positive correlation between gingival width and gingival thickness.

Methods: Right upper canines (C), lateral (LI) and central incisors (CI) of 60 patients (30 male and 30 female) ranging from 20 to 35 years of age were examined. The following clinical parameters were assessed: gingival width (GW), gingival thickness (GT), and probing depth (PD). PD was measured using a periodontal probe. GT and GW were measured using an endodontic finger spreader attached to a rubber stopper and quantified with a caliper of 0.01 mm resolution.

Results: It was observed that LI is the dental element that presents the greatest average gingival width (5.54 mm), followed by CI (4.63 mm) and C (4.32 mm). Average gingival thickness was greater in CI (1.17 mm), followed by LI (1.04 mm), and C (0.87 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between the averages of gingival width and gingival thickness among males and females. No difference was observed between individuals who did or did not undergo orthodontic treatment on the averages of gingival width and gingival thickness. A positive correlation was observed between gingival thickness and gingival width in C (Pearson r = 0.398, P < 0.05), LI (Pearson r = 0.369, P < 0.05), CI (Pearson r = 0.492, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between gingival thickness and gingival width among the evaluated teeth.