Gingival phenotype distribution in young Caucasian women and men – an investigative study

Abstract: Objectives
To evaluate the relationship between gingival phenotype and tooth location based on selected index teeth (“Ramfjord”) and assess possible differences between women and men.

Material and Methods
Thirty-six women and 20 men voluntarily participated in this investigation with an average age of 23 years (min: 19; max: 37). Gingival phenotypes (GP) were assessed by transparency of a periodontal probe through the buccal gingival margin.

Results
A comparable and similar GP on all index teeth was only found in seven out of the 56 subjects, that is, thin or thick only: Five participants (three male/two female) showed a uniform and constantly thick and two females a constantly thin GP. While the majority of molars (94.6%; p = 0.006) showed a thick GP, premolars (61.6%; p = 0.09) as well as incisors (70.5%; p = 0.046) were predominantly categorized as thin. In addition, significantly thicker GP was in general observed for maxillary teeth (p = 0.001) but without differences between genders (p = 0.722).

Conclusion
No constant GP can be expected within one dentition. The use of the “Ramfjord teeth” may serve as a quick overview and reliable method to screen GP distribution

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Clinical and experimental dental research. - 8, 1 (2022) , 374-379, ISSN: 2057-4347

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2021
• Creator: Fischer, Kai R. ; Büchel, Jasmin ; Kauffmann, Frederic ; Heumann, Christian ; Friedmann, Anton Josef ; Schmidlin, Patrick Roger

Further information

• DOI: 10.1002/cre2.482
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2231191
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 11:01 AM CEST