Gingival biotype and its relation to incisors' inclination and dentopapillary complex: An in vivo study

Objectives: To study the gingival biotype and its relation to maxillary and mandibular incisor inclination and its relation to dentopapillary complex. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 150 consecutive patients seeking orthodontic treatment at JSS Dental College, Mysore. Gingival biotype was assessed for maxillary and mandibular incisors using a digital vernier caliper. Maxillary and mandibular incisors' inclination and position were measured using cephalometric analysis. Parameters of dentopapillary complex were recorded from the dental casts. Results: The prevalence of thin gingival biotype was 42.66% for maxillary and 39.33% for mandibular incisors. A significant association was found between mandibular incisor inclination and thin gingival biotype, whereas there was no association between maxillary incisor inclination and gingival biotype. There was a significant correlation between gingival biotype and crown length, area of papilla, area of crown, and papilla length with P = 0.001 each. Conclusion: Mandibular incisor proclination is associated with thin gingival biotype, whereas no association is found in the maxilla. The correlation between gingival biotypes and dentopapillary complex is confirmed in this study. Evaluation of gingival biotype is of paramount importance during treatment planning for orthodontic patients.