title: On the relationship between gingival biotypes and gingival thickness in young Caucasians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a possible relationship between gingival biotypes and gingival thickness, papilla height and gingival width.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six adult subjects were stratified by their gingival biotype (GB), as defined by transparency of a periodontal probe through the buccal gingival margin, into "thin" (18 subjects) and "thick" (18 subjects) GB. Out of these, extreme cases (6 "very thin", 6 "very thick") were identified. Four different parameters were assessed: gingival thickness (GT), papilla height (PH), probing depth (PD) and gingival width (GW).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing "thin" and "thick" GB, midfacial GT (0.40 ± 0.07 vs. 0.72 ± 0.11 mm; P < 0.0001), PH (3.76 ± 0.50 vs. 3.95 ± 0.41 mm, P = 0.02) and GW (3.01 ± 1.26 vs. 4.63 ± 0.86 mm, P = 0.04) were lower in the "thin" GB group. Further stratification into moderately and extremely "thin"/"thick" GB eliminated the differences between the moderate groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data support the traditional hypothesis that two different gingival biotypes with concomitant properties distinguishable by gingival transparency exist. In addition, we provide evidence that an alternative classification into "very thick", "moderate" and "very thin" biotypes might be advantageous, because the unique properties were seemingly primarily driven by subjects with extreme values.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Periodontology, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.|Department of Periodontology, University Witten/Herdecke Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Operative and Preventive Dentistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kebschull
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fickl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009811:Odontometry; D044465:White People
keywords: attached gingiva; direct measurement; gingival biotype; gingival thickness; probe transparency