Gingival Phenotype and Dental Crowding in Pediatric Patients

NCT ID: NCT07205172

Last Updated: 2025-12-22

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 180 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-16
• Study Completion Date: 2027-04-30

Brief Summary

The diagnostic evaluation of the soft and hard tissues surrounding the tooth is one of the most crucial factors in clinical dental practice. It can influence treatment planning and decision-making in multidisciplinary dental care. Since different periodontal phenotypes respond differently to chemical, physical, and bacterial insults, or trauma during dental treatments, this aspect is considered essential in determining the outcome of therapy across many dental specialties.

Understanding the gingival phenotype can be of great importance in pediatric dentistry, as thick gingiva provides a solid and stable foundation for maintaining optimal oral hygiene and is one of the key elements in orthodontic treatment.

The bucco-lingual thickness of the gingiva, combined with the direction of tooth movement, is considered an important factor in soft tissue changes and in the development or progression of mucogingival defects. In cases of a thin phenotype, dehiscence and/or fenestrations may occur, predisposing the patient to gingival recession if the tooth is moved beyond the biological limits-i.e., outside the bony housing. The mandibular incisors have been identified as the teeth most susceptible to the development of labial recession.

Some malocclusions become evident as early as the early mixed dentition period. Intense changes in both soft and hard tissues occur during the growth and development of the stomatognathic system, as described in the literature, particularly during the mixed dentition phase. These changes can affect tooth position and the stability of periodontal tissues, making a proper evaluation of the gingival phenotype essential in pediatric patients.

Interceptive orthodontics plays a key role in the prevention and early management of malocclusions, helping to reduce the risk of developing mucogingival defects in adulthood. Early identification of a thin gingival phenotype allows for the implementation of preventive strategies, such as controlling tooth movement within biological limits and, if necessary, using gingival grafts before performing critical orthodontic movements.

Additionally, genetic, anatomical, and functional factors influence the gingival response to orthodontic forces. An accurate assessment of the gingival biotype, combined with personalized orthodontic planning, is essential to ensure effective treatment and long-term periodontal health.

Currently, there are no studies in the literature regarding the association between the severity of dental crowding and periodontal biotype in pediatric patients. Furthermore, the data available in the adult population are inconsistent: Kaya et al. demonstrated that, in adulthood, there is no correlation between the gingival phenotype and skeletal malocclusion. On the other hand, Kong et al. reported a correlation between a thin biotype in skeletal Class I and III, site-specific to the left mandibular central incisor, and also found a significant association between the thin phenotype and the normodivergent and hypodivergent groups.

To date, there is therefore no predictive model capable of identifying periodontal issues related to severe crowding.

The aim of this study is primarily to assess the periodontal phenotype in pediatric patients at different stages of dental transition and to investigate a possible association between a thin periodontal biotype and severe dental crowding in childhood.

Conditions

Crowding, Tooth; Gingival Diseases

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Pediatric patients in the permanent dentition stage

This group includes adolescents who have completed the transition and have all or nearly all of their permanent teeth, excluding third molars (wisdom teeth). This stage typically begins around age 12 and up.

Orthodontic and periodontal analysis

Intervention Type: OTHER

Intraoral digital impression aimed at orthodontic analysis and periodontal evaluation using a dedicated periodontal probe, as part of the routine dental examination.

Pediatric patients in the primary dentition stage

This group includes children who still have all their primary (baby) teeth, with no eruption of permanent teeth. Typically, this stage ranges from approximately 2 to 6 years of age.

Orthodontic and periodontal analysis

Intervention Type: OTHER

Intraoral digital impression aimed at orthodontic analysis and periodontal evaluation using a dedicated periodontal probe, as part of the routine dental examination.

Pediatric patients in the early mixed dentition stage

This group includes children in the initial phase of tooth transition, where the first permanent molars and incisors have erupted while primary teeth are still present. This stage generally occurs between 6 and 8 years of age.

Orthodontic and periodontal analysis

Intervention Type: OTHER

Intraoral digital impression aimed at orthodontic analysis and periodontal evaluation using a dedicated periodontal probe, as part of the routine dental examination.

Pediatric patients in the late mixed dentition stage

This group consists of children in the later phase of dental transition, when canines and premolars begin to replace primary teeth. It usually occurs between 9 and 12 years of age.

Orthodontic and periodontal analysis

Intervention Type: OTHER

Intraoral digital impression aimed at orthodontic analysis and periodontal evaluation using a dedicated periodontal probe, as part of the routine dental examination.

Interventions

Orthodontic and periodontal analysis

Intraoral digital impression aimed at orthodontic analysis and periodontal evaluation using a dedicated periodontal probe, as part of the routine dental examination.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Pediatric patients attending the Pediatric Dentistry and/or Orthodontics clinic (consultation and/or outpatient appointment).
• Parents and/or legal guardians have signed the informed consent for participation in the study.
• Age between 5 and 16 years.
• Clinical dentition criteria by group:

Group 1 (Primary Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of deciduous teeth from canine to canine. Group 2 (Early Mixed Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of at least two permanent mandibular incisors, fully erupted (incisal edge at occlusal level) or partially erupted (≥50% of the crown), with no clinical attachment loss, and healthy gingiva or mild gingivitis (Gingival Index, GI ≤ 1). Group 3 (Late Mixed Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of all four permanent mandibular incisors fully erupted (incisal edge at occlusal level), with no clinical attachment loss, and healthy gingiva or mild gingivitis (GI ≤

1). Group 4 (Permanent Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of all four permanent mandibular incisors fully erupted (incisal edge at occlusal level), with no clinical attachment loss, and healthy gingiva or mild gingivitis (GI ≤ 1).

Exclusion Criteria

Patient-related:

• Parents and/or legal guardians have not signed the informed consent.
• Patients who are not sufficiently cooperative to allow a routine dental examination.
• Non-cooperative patients, including those with special needs.
• Children with systemic diseases or undergoing medication that affects gingival tissues.
• Patients who have already undergone orthodontic treatment or are currently undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Tooth-related:

• Presence of dental agenesis or dental anomalies.
• Dental sites with mucogingival problems.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 5 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Patrizia Gallenzi

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Central Contacts

Patrizia Gallenzi

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +39 0630156358

Email: patrizia.gallenzi@unicatt.it

Other Identifiers

7704

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id