Correlations between Width of Keratinized Gingiva and Supracrestal Gingival Tissues Dimensions: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study is to assess potential correlation between the width of the keratinized gingiva (KG), and the dimensions of the supracrestal gingival tissue (SGT) components.

Materials And Methods: On the sample of 259 teeth of 79 patients, the following measurements were collected: width of KG, sulcus depth (SD), SGT, and biological width (BW) dimensions; separate correlations between measured elements were computed for males and females, for anterior and posterior, and for maxillary and mandibular teeth separately.

Results: Correlations between buccal KG and BW were present only for the upper anterior teeth and were nonsignificant in the female subsample, whereas the correlation between lingual KG and SGT were present only in females. Additionally, correlations between buccal KG and SD were present in upper anterior teeth only and were absent in the male subgroup.

Conclusion: The width of the KG cannot routinely be used as an indicator for the dimensions of the SGT components.

Clinical Significance: While the width of the KG can hardly be a useful indicator in upper anterior teeth, probing depth and bone sounding prior to prosthetic rehabilitation remains an essential tool to ensure tissue preservation.