title: Thickness of gingiva in association with age, gender and dental arch location.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been long known that the clinical appearance of healthy marginal periodontium differs from subject to subject and even among different tooth types. Many features are genetically determined; others seem to be influenced by tooth size, shape and position and biological phenomena such as gender, growth and age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the thickness of facial gingiva among Indians and its association with age, gender and dental arch.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 16 males and 16 females with an age range of 16-38 years. Gingival thickness was assessed in the maxillary and mandibular anteriors by transgingival probing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that the younger age group had significantly thicker gingiva than that of the older age group. The gingiva was found to be thinner in females than males and, in the mandibular arch than the maxilla.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, it was concluded that gingival thickness varies according to age, gender and dental arch.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere 577 044, Karnataka, India. vanrajs@hotmail.com
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Vandana
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Savitha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012737:Sex Factors