Gingival recession in mandibular incisors and symphysis morphology-a retrospective cohort study.

Eur J Orthod. 2018 Apr 6;40(2):185-192. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjx046.

Mazurova K(1), Kopp JB(2), Renkema AM(3), Pandis N(2), Katsaros C(2), Fudalej

PS(1)(2).

Author information:

(1)Department of Orthodontics, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.

(2)Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, University of Bern,

Switzerland.

(3)Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Biology, Radboud University

Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the morphology of the mandibular symphysis is

associated with the development of gingival recession.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 177 patients was followed longitudinally for

up to 5 years post-treatment. Based on the width of the symphysis, participants

were divided into three groups: narrow (n = 57); average (n = 63), and wide

symphysis (n = 57). Morphology of the symphysis and inclination of incisors were

measured on lateral cephalometric radiographs before treatment (Ts), at the end

of treatment (T0) and 5 years after treatment (T5). Gingival recession and the

change of clinical crown heights in mandibular incisors were measured on plaster

models made at TS, T0, and T5.

RESULTS: From TS to T5 the change in inclination was comparable in the narrow,

average, and wide groups. At T5, gingival labial recession was present in 19.3

per cent of patients with narrow symphysis, 20.6 per cent with average

symphysis, and 14 per cent of patients with wide symphysis. The difference was

not significant. The mean change of clinical crown height was <1 mm (TS – T5).

The regression model showed some evidence that incisor inclination at Ts might

have been associated with the change of mean clinical crown height (-2.51, 95%

CI: -4.6 to -0.4, P = 0.02). The logistic regression model demonstrated that H1

(Height 1) might be associated with the development of gingival recession (OR =

0.75, 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.96, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, there is no evidence that the

overall morphology of the mandibular symphysis is associated with gingival

recession development.

DOI: 10.1093/ejo/cjx046

PMID: 28637273 [Indexed for MEDLINE]