Assessment of the effects of selected risk factors on the presence of gingival recession of incisors and canines in the mandible – a survey

In dental practice, gingival recession is a common problem among patients. Root surface exposure predisposes to the development of caries, dentin hypersensitivity, and it deteriorates the aesthetics of the smile. The aetiology of gingival recession is multifactorial. Its formation may be affected by anatomical conditions, behavioural factors, as well as iatrogenic errors.

Aim
To assess the correlation between selected behavioural risk factors and the presence of gingival recession of incisors and canines in the mandible.

Material and methods
A survey and clinical examination were conducted in 35 patients of both sexes. The survey was focused on risk factors of gingival recession depending on the patient, and the clinical examination assessed the presence of gingival recession (GR), dental plaque (DP) and bleeding on probing (BoP) for 210 teeth. The correlation between the occurrence of gingival recession and DP, BoP and behavioural factors was studied. A statistical analysis was performed in Statistica 13, the Spearman’s test was used to assess the correlation with the significance level of 0.05.

Results
Gingival recession was observed for 44 teeth (21.05%). A positive correlation was found between gingival recession and the patient's age and the tooth brushing technique (horizontal movements). Circular movements of a toothbrush while tooth brushing correlated negatively with gingival recession.

Conclusions
Gingival recession near incisors and canines exacerbates with the patient’s age and depends on the tooth brushing technique – horizontal movements favour recession, while circular movements favour maintaining the proper level of the gingivae.