Occurrence, extension, and severity of gingival margin alterations after orthodontic treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the occurrence, extension, and severity of gingival margin alterations in a sample of youth after orthodontic treatment.


METHODS
Records from 209 Caucasian adolescents (118 female and 91 male) before and after orthodontic treatment were selected. Patients presented a mean age at the beginning of orthodontic treatment of 11.20 ± 1.86 years and a final mean age of 14.72 ± 1.83 years. Class I and II patients with mandibular incisors and canines that were completely erupted and with spacing or crowding not exceeding 4 mm were evaluated. The presence of gingival recession on the labial surface of the mandibular anterior teeth was evaluated in intraoral photographs and casts made before and after treatment.


RESULTS
The proportion of patients with gingival recession after treatment was statistically higher than at the beginning (P<.001). After orthodontic treatment, gingival recession was not present in any of the teeth for 63.6% of the patients; in 29.2% of the patients, recession was present in at least 1 tooth. In terms of severity, the majority of affected teeth (47%) presented gingival recession less than 2 mm and in 2% more than 4 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be concluded that alterations in the gingival margin, especially gingival recession, occur in patients after orthodontic therapy, but the extent and severity of this finding are low.
Closs
Luciane Q
LQ
Department of Orthodontics, Araraquara School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil. lucloss@uol.com.br
Grehs
Betina
B
Raveli
Dirceu Barnabe
DB
Rösing
Cassiano Kuschenbecker
CK
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003481:Cuspid / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000628:therapy; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000628:therapy; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D003765:Models, Dental; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D023861:Photography, Dental; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation