Gingival thickness threshold and probe visibility through soft tissue: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim was to retrieve the threshold of gingival thickness (GT), where the attribute of gingival translucency through probe visibility was altered.MethodsIn 200 patients, the soft tissue thickness was evaluated at both central mandibular incisors using ultrasound quantification (USD). Additionally, probe visibility was determined using a standard periodontal probe (PB) (CPU 15 UNC, Hu-Friedy), inserted 1 mm deep into the gingival sulcus. Frequencies and relative frequencies were calculated. Repeatability analyses and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were conducted to determine the USD cut-off point for probe visibility.ResultsRegression model indicated that the probe was not visible at a thickness of 0.82 mm for the mandibular left central incisor (95% CIs 0.77, 0.86) and became visible at a thickness of 0.69 mm (95% CIs 0.65, 0.72). The respective values for the mandibular right central incisor were 0.82 mm (95% CIs 0.77, 0.87) and 0.70 mm (0.68, 0.74). ROC analysis confirmed the retrieved regression results by indicating the best fitting balance for specificity and sensitivity at a thickness of 0.8 mm for both mandibular incisors.ConclusionsIn the frame of the current study, the data revealed that gingiva becomes non-transparent at a thickness of approximately 0.8 mm.Clinical relevanceProbe visibility at mandibular incisors for the discrimination between thin and thick soft tissues was correlated with a gingival thickness of 0.8 mm and a high repeatability.