Analysis of Crown Morphology and Gingival Shape in the Maxillary Anterior Dentition.

Abstract

From a sample of 108 periodontally healthy volunteers with different combinations of morphometric data related to maxillary central anterior teeth and the surrounding soft tissues, this article aims to categorize gingival phenotypes according to tooth and gingival parameters, as well as assess the relationships between tooth shape and gingival characteristics, such as the papillary height (PH) and faciolingual thickness (FLT) of the papilla base. The periodontal phenotypes of 108 volunteers were confirmed using the periodontal probe transmission method for Kan classification. The FLT, PH, and the crown width to crown length (CW/CL) ratio for maxillary anterior teeth were measured. K-clustering was used to classify the anterior tooth shape into three groups: triangular, square, and compound. The mean CW/CL ratio for the maxillary anterior tooth position of the thick phenotype was greater than that of the thin phenotype. The PH and FLT for the maxillary anterior interdental papillae were greater for the thin phenotype group than for the thick phenotype group. A negative correlation was observed between the CW/CL ratio and both PH and FLT (P < .05 for both). However, a significant positive correlation was observed between FLT and PH. CW/CL ratio, FLT, and PH were all associated with the gingival phenotype with significant statistical correlations (P < .05 for all). Triangular teeth were correlated with scallop-shaped gingiva in the faciolingual area, while square teeth were associated with a flat gingiva.