Assessment of gingival sulcus depth, width of attached gingiva, and gingival thickness in primary, mixed, and permanent dentition

Abstract

Aim and Objective: The objective of this in vivo study was to evaluate sulcus depth width and thickness of facial attached gingiva in primary, mixed, and permanent dentition. Materials and Methods: The study included 40 subjects (22 males and 18 females) with 480 sites of an age range 4–25 years. Subjects were divided into three groups: the primary dentition (4–6 years), mixed dentition (7–13 years), and adult dentition (16–25 years). All the parameters were measured in the upper and lower anterior segments. Results: Gingival sulcus depth (GSD), attached gingiva width (AGW), and gingival thickness (GT) were measured archwise and toothwise in different dentition and overall dentition wise without differentiating archwise and toothwise. GSD was significantly higher in maxillary mixed dentition (1.75 ± 0.75), followed by permanent and primary dentition. AGW was significantly higher in maxillary permanent dentition (3.4 ± 0.36) followed by maxillary mixed and permanent dentition. GT was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in mixed dentition midbuccally (1.3 ± 0.46) and interdentally (2.31 ± 0.71) in both the arches. In all the dentition, maxillary central incisor showed significant GSD. AGW was significantly higher in permanent maxillary canine (3.5 ± 0.5). GT (midbuccal) was significantly higher in primary dentition (1.4 ± 0.5), and GT (ID) was significant in mixed dentition (2.6 ± 0.7). Conclusion: The sulcus depth and GT increases from primary to mixed dentition and significantly higher in maxilla. The width of attached gingiva was less in mixed dentition than primary with maxillary sites exhibiting higher values than mandibular.