title: Classification of dental surface defects in areas of gingival recession.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A clinical classification of surface defects in gingival recession area is proposed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two factors were evaluated to set up a classification system: presence (A) or absence (B) of cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and presence (+) or absence (-) of dental surface discrepancy caused by abrasion (step). Four classes (A+, A-, B+, and B-) were identified on the basis of these variables. To validate the classification three different calibrated examiners applied the proposed classification system to 46 gingival recessions and kappa statistics were performed. The classification was used on 1,010 gingival recessions from 353 patients to examine the distribution of the four classes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The kappa statistics for intrarater agreement ranged from 0.74 to 0.95 (almost perfect agreement), whereas interrater agreement ranged from 0.26 to 0.59 (moderate agreement). Out of 1,010 exposed root surfaces associated with gingival recession, 144 showed an identifiable CEJ associated with a root surface defect (Class A+, 14%); 469 an identifiable CEJ without any associated step (Class A-, 46%); 244 an unidentifiable CEJ with a step (Class B+, 24%); and 153 an unidentifiable CEJ without any associated step (Class B-, 15%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed classification describes the dental surface defects that are of paramount importance in diagnosing gingival recession areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. gpinipr@tin.it
authors.forename: Giovanpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pini-Prato
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cairo
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieri
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rotundo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D017213:Root Caries / Q000150:complications; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000473:pathology*; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult