Study to Evaluate Prevalence, Severity and Extension of Gingival Recession in the Adult Population of Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra State in India

The gingival recession was evaluated in 400 subjects aged more than 20 years, looking for dental treatment at Rural Dental College and Hospital, Loni, Maharashtra, India. Clinical examination was conducted by a single examiner and analysis of four surfaces (mesial, buccal, distal and lingual) was done. The gingival recession was measured in millimeters from the cementoenamel junction to the gingival margin with the help of UNC-15 periodontal probe. The recessions were scored by the criteria suggested by P. D. Miller. The study showed the prevalence, extension and severity of the gingival recession increased as age advances. Class I and Class II gingival recessions were the most prevalent in subjects less than 40 years old whereas from 40-49 years of age class III gingival recession was more common, in subjects older than 50 years, class IV gingival recession was more prevalent and it was mainly of generalized in distribution. The mandibular teeth displayed more surfaces with gingival recession than the maxillary teeth and the mandibular incisors were the most affected. Such high prevalence of gingival recession in adult subjects demonstrates that dental professionals should provide attention to the clinical significance, etiologic factors and management of gingival recession.