Methods: Seventy systemically healthy adult volunteers, 39 males and 31 females, aged 24.3±4.8 years, were recruited for this cross-sectional investigation in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Participants had to be Black, with all 4 grandparents being Black (self-identified), periodontally healthy, and without contraindications to study procedures, orthodontic treatment or medications affecting periodontal tissue health. The following parameters were clinically recorded: a) width of attached gingiva (WAG), b) probing depth (PD), and c) gingival thickness (GTH). Impressions were made of the maxillary anterior sextant and stone casts were prepared. Casts were used to measure clinical crown length (CL) and crown width (CW) and to calculate the CW/CL ratio. All parameters were recorded on the maxillary right anterior teeth (central and lateral incisor, canine). Descriptive statistics (mean±SD) are used to report findings.
Results: In this population, the gingival dimensions for the central incisor were: WAG=3.7±0.8 mm; GTH=0.9±0.2 mm. The mid-buccal PD was 1.0±0.4 mm, while CW/CL was 0.82±0.13. The corresponding values (WAG, GTH, PD, CW/CL) for the lateral incisor were: 3.6±1.0 mm, 1.0±0.3 mm, 1.0±0.5 mm, and 0.70±0.10; for the canine, the values were 3.1±0.9 mm, 1.0±0.3 mm, 1.0±0.4 mm, and 0.71±0.10.
Conclusion: These results indicate that the gingival dimensions in Blacks fall within the range of dimensions previously reported for White and Asian populations.
Supported by the Division of Periodontology, Ohio State University.