Comparison of the Effectiveness of the Ultrasonic Method and Cone-beam Computed Tomography Combined With Intraoral Scanning and Prosthetic-driven Implant Planning Method in Determing the Gingival Phenotype in the Healthy Periodontium.

Gingival phenotype (GP) should be determine in each dento-gingival unit as a 3D volume of gingiva with the following parameters: width of keratinized tissue (WKT) and gingival thickness (GT). The phenotype determination is extremely important during many dental procedures, such as in dental surgery, orthodontics, prosthetics or implantology because it allows to dental treatment planning and reduce the risk of complications. Previous methods of determining the gingival phenotype were based on the shape of the crowns of the upper incisors and transparency of the free gingiva. These methods are non-invasive, but innacurate. The gingival phenotype may be determined more precisely by using biometry of WKT and GT. There are several possible methods to measure the thickness of the gingiva, such as bone sounding, cone beam comuted tomography (CBCT) measurement or parallel profile radiographs, CBCT/CAD (CBCT and computer-aided design) and ultrasound method. The ultrasonic gingival tissue measurement (UGTM) method is non-invasive, removes the need for anesthesia, which may increases the volume of tissues, but requires the experience of the researcher. However, it is considered as effective and reproducible method of the measurement soft tissue thickness. CBCT/CAD/PDIP (CBCT/CAD and prosthetic-driven implant planning) method also can be used to establishing the gingival phenotype.

Measurements of WKT are most often carried out using a periodontal probe calibrated every 1mm. In each case, a necessary condition for the proper examination of the patient and determination of GP is healthy periodontium.