A Study on Measurement of Gingival Thickness in Periodontal Patients

Abstract

Gingival thickness is thought to be related to treatment periodontal disease, gingival recession, and progression of gingival inflammation. By ascertaining this thickness, we can diagnose periodontal diseases and optimize treatment, properly planned periodontal treatment is extremely important to prognosis. We used a noninvasive ultrasonic device (SDM™, Krupp GmbH, Germany) to measure mucosal thickness and preliminarily confirm the replictability and accuracy of data. It was then used to measure clinically healthy gingiva classified as thick or thin gingiva based on average thickness. We used these categories to study changes in gingival thickness in the initial treatment patients with periodontal disease. Clinical parameters were evaluated and histological studies conducted, with the following resultes:
1. Data obtained by the SDM™was highly reliable and the SDM™was clinically applicable.
2. Mean thickness of clinically healthy gingiva was 0.92±0.42mm.
3. In cases of thin gingiva (SDM™<1.4mm), inflammation promptly ceased. Although the probe depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) markedly inproved, gingival recession occurred easily. In cases of thick gingiva (SDM™±1.4mm), inflammation decreased slowly and PD and CAL did not readilyimprove.
4. The results of histological studies based on differences in gingival thickness indicated differences in the thickness of the stratum corneum and epithelium and the ratio that connective tissues accounted for.
SDM™measurement indicated that the device was clinically useful in determining gingival thickness and that differences in gingival thickness showed associated differences in clinical parameters and histological observation. J. Jpn. Soc. Periodontol., 43: 204-216, 2001.