Determination of Gingival Phenotype and Gingival Recession Type in Patients Postorthodontic Treatment

Purpose: Gingival recession is a commonly reported symptom following orthodontic treatment, for which identification is crucial to therapeutic management. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of recession occurring after orthodontic treatment, assess the gingival phenotype in patients with recession, and investigate the various types of recession. Materials and Methods: This study involved 80 patients aged 18-65 years who had completed fixed orthodontic treatment, and they were categorized into two groups based on the presence of gingival recession. Periodontal indices were obtained for all patients. Patients with gingival recession had assessments taken for gingival recession depth, gingival recession width, gingival tissue thickness, and keratinized gingival width. Statistical analyses were performed with a significance level of p<0.05 to compare participants with and without gingival recession. Results: Patients with gingival recession exhibited significantly lower rates of gingivitis than those without gingival recession. Tooth number 31 exhibited the highest incidence of gingival recession, at 31.2%. Gingival recession was observed in 93.5% of Cairo Class 1 patients. Among the participants, 51.9% had a thin gingival phenotype, while 48.1% had a thick phenotype. Conclusion: To minimize the risk of gingival recession and maintain periodontal health, the study highlights the need for careful evaluation and preventive actions throughout and following orthodontic treatment.