A clinical study comparing the width of attached gingiva and the prevalence of gingival recessions.

One hundred preclinical year dental students were examined. Oral hygiene status and gingival condition were determined using the Plaque Index score (Silness & Löe 1964) and the Gingival Index score systems (Löe & Silness 1963). The width of the attached gingiva and the depth of the gingival pockets were evaluated. The gingival recessions were recorded and their heights measured from the CEJ to the gingival margin. No significant correlation was found between oral hygiene and gingival recession, oral hygiene and width of attached gingival conditions and width of attached gingiva. Only a negative correlation (P less than 0.05) was found between the width of attached gingiva and the number of gingival recessions. No statistically significant differences were observed in oral hygiene status and gingival conditions among three groups of students (without, with one and with two or more recessions, respectively). The roles of toothbrushing trauma and "adequate" width of attached gingiva in the etiology of gingival recessions are questioned.