INDEX ASSESSMENT OF PERIODONTAL TISSUES IN PATIENTS WITH SHORT CLINICAL CROWNS

Abstract

Introduction. A practical method aimed at restoring a short clinical crown (SCC) of a tooth is surgical, the task of which is to perform a minimally invasive intervention in the periodontium/alveolar process/part or in combination, to increase the supragingival structure of the tooth to ensure successful orthopedic or therapeutic treatment. The study aimed to assess the state of periodontal tissues and oral hygiene in patients with SCC of abutment teeth, who are indicated for surgical lengthening of the clinical crown. Research materials and methods. 65 patients with SCC of teeth were examined (mean age: 31.96±6.84 years). The O'Leary irritation index, oral hygiene status, periodontal groove/pocket depth, periodontal index (PI), periodontal biotype, gingival bleeding index (GBI), and degree and index of gingival recession were determined. Statistica 10 (Serial Number: STA999K347150-W) and MEDCALC® were used. Results. 65 patients had 113 teeth with SCC. The most common occurrence was the presence of two teeth with SCC in the oral cavity, more often on both jaws, with a predominance among molars, and in 13.8 % of cases among antagonist teeth. Surgical lengthening of SCC is indicated in 95.4 % of cases, two-thirds among molars. It has been proven that the average values of the tooth's crown part height, in which surgical lengthening of SCC is indicated, were ≤ 3.35 mm. According to the irritation and hygiene indices, a good and satisfactory level of oral hygiene was found in 60.0–78.5 % with the absence or small amount of plaque or supragingival calculus; however, in 40.0 % of cases, an unsatisfactory condition was diagnosed. According to PI, 26.2 % of patients had healthy tissues, 55.4 % had simple gingivitis, and only 20.0 % had initial destructive changes in the periodontium. In 40.0 % of patients with SCC teeth, the average periodontal biotype was determined, and in 46.2 % was found to be thick, and 13.8 % was determined to be thin. In the examined persons with SCC, the average GBI index indicated the predominance of patients with mild gingival inflammation and lack of bleeding. The vast majority of patients (72.3 %) did not have gingival recession, of the 27.7 % of persons with gingival recession, more than half of them (55.6 %) had class I, in a significant majority (72.8 %) a mild degree of recession, the average gingival recession index was 16.08±4.73 %, which corresponded to a mild form of periodontal pathology. Conclusions. The results indicate the feasibility of surgically lengthening the height of the crown part of the teeth in order to ensure their effective further functioning and preserve the integrity of the dentition.