Avaliação clínica e termográfica de fenótipos gengivais

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical and thermographic aspects of gingival phenotypes (FGs) in healthy patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample composed of 264 incisors, obtained through spontaneous demand and formed by 33 healthy volunteers recruited from the State University of Paraíba - PB. Data collection was divided into 3 stages, 1) obtaining sociodemographic and anthropometric data; 2) thermographic exams; and 3) periodontal clinical examinations. Four periodontal parameters were systematically recorded: tooth crown width and height ratio (LC/AC), height of attached gingiva (AG), probing depth (PS) and gingival transparency (TR). The temperature of the attached gingiva (Temp AG) and the temperature of the free marginal gingiva (Temp marginal) of all incisors were also measured using infrared thermography (IRT). The statistical tests applied in this research were the following: Pearson's chi-square test, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis with Dunn's multiple comparison, Spearman's Correlation, Student's t test and Tukey's Post Hoc ANOVA test. In the results obtained, the mean age of the sample was 30.70 ± 7.65 years, with 11 female and 22 male volunteers, with a mean weight of 71.91 ± 11.37 kilograms (Kg) and a mean of BMI of 25.25 ± Kg/m2. Of the 264 teeth evaluated, 201 (76.1%) had fine FG. There was a significant association between LC/AC (p < 0.001), AG (p < 0.001) PS (p = 0.007) and marginal Temp (p = 0.006) with the groups of teeth evaluated (ICs and ILs). There is a significant difference between LC/AC and AG with FG, with values of p = 0.026 and p < 0.001, respectively. Furthermore, the results show a significant and inversely proportional correlation between coronary and gingival morphological clinical parameters and thermographic characteristics (p < 0.001). However, it was not possible to observe a significant association between AG Temp (p = 0.267) and marginal Temp (p = 0.456) with FG. It can be concluded that the shape of the dental crowns and the AG influence the classification of FG and that teeth with wide and short crowns, higher AG and higher PS tend to have lower gingival temperatures, as well as teeth with long and narrow crowns, lower AG and lower PS tend to have higher gingival tissue temperature. Despite this, it was not possible to observe a significant difference between gingival temperature and FG type.