title: Anterior maxillary and mandibular biotype:  relationship between gingival thickness and width with respect to underlying bone thickness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : Periodontal biotype is considered to be a significant factor related to successful dental treatments. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between gingival thickness (GT) and width with respect to the underlying bone thickness in the maxillary and mandibular anterior sextant.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Overall, 180 anterior teeth within healthy patients were assessed. GT and buccal bone thickness (BT) were measured at 3 locations: crestal/gingival margin, tooth apex, and a midpoint between the 2. In addition, the apicoincisal gingival width (GW) was recorded. Clinical and cone beam CT measurements were compared and correlated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : No statistically significant relations were observed between GT and BT measures at any of the 3 positions. The mean GT at crestal mid and apical position for the maxillary teeth was 1.01 (±0.58) mm, 1.06 (±0.48) mm, and 0.83 (±0.47) mm, respectively, and the corresponding mean BT was 1.24 (±0.90) mm, 0.81 (±0.33) mm, and 2.78 (±1.62) mm, respectively. The GW is directly related (R = 0.007; P < 0.05) to the crestal BT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : In this study, the GT is not linked to the BT. However, the GW seems to be associated with the crestal BT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. pascuallarocca@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Andres Pascual
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: La Rocca
authors.forename: Antonio Santos
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alemany
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Monica Vicario
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: Jose Nart
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Arnold S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Weisgold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult