Prevalence of Gingival Biotype in a Syrian Population and Its Relation to Tooth Shapes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Gingival biotype is one of the most important factors that impede success in dental treatments; it affects the outcomes of periodontal surgery, and restorative treatments. Researchers classified gingival biotypes into thin biotype and thick biotype. It is crucial to identify tissue biotype before treatment. Aim of Study: To determine the prevalence of gingival biotypes in a Syrian population, in addition, to study the distribution of gingival biotypes according to gender and tooth shape. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study included 500 volunteers (300 males and 200 females) from the patients who had visited the department of periodontology-dental faculty at Damascus University. Gingival thickness was assessed to determine the gingival biotype for the maxillary central incisors using the direct measurement technique (Trans-gingival probing). Shapes of the maxillary incisors were recorded. A written informed consent was taken from each patient. Statistical analysis was done using test k2 p < 0.05. Results: The mean age was 26.8 ± 4.4 years. Thick gingival biotype was detected in 58.4% of the sample and most of patients are men while the prevalence of thin gingival biotype was 41.6% of the sample. It was also observed that patients with thin gingival biotype had triangular tooth shape in 99.5% (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Thick gingival biotype was observed to be more prevalent in a Syrian population than thin biotype. Most Syrian males had thick gingival biotype with square tooth shape while females had thinner biotype and triangular tooth shape.