Gingival biotype in relation to incisors' inclination and position.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between gingival biotypes and inclination and position of the maxillary and mandibular incisors.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 142 consecutive orthodontic patients (64 males and 78 females) who were seeking orthodontic treatment at the Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from February 2013 to January 2014. Gingival biotype was assessed independently for the maxillary and mandibular central incisors using the transparency of periodontal probe method. Maxillary and mandibular incisors' inclination and position were measured using cephalometric analysis.


RESULTS
The mean age was 23.56 (±2.55) years. The prevalence of thin gingival biotype was 43% for the maxillary and 52.1% for the mandibular incisors. Females were 4 times more likely to have thin gingiva for the maxillary incisors and 5 times more likely for the mandibular incisors. A significant association was found between mandibular incisor inclination and position and thin gingival biotype, while there was no association between the maxillary incisor inclination and position and gingival biotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
Mandibular incisor proclination and protrusion is associated with thin gingival biotype while no association is found in the maxilla. The evaluation of the gingival biotype is essential during diagnosis and treatment planning for potential orthodontic patients.
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80209, Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (12) 6402000 Ext. 20388. Fax. +966 (12) 6403316. E-mail. kzawawi@kau.edu.sa.
Khalid H
KH
Zawawi
Mohammad S
MS
Al-Zahrani
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005889:Gingival Recession; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D009929:Organ Size; D057887:Overbite / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult