Despite growing interest in dentofacial interactions, evidence linking three-dimensional (3D) craniofacial morphology to periodontal phenotypes remains sparse. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate correlations between maxillary anterior periodontal parameters and 3D craniofacial morphology in a Chinese population. Participants underwent cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral scans to quantify bone thickness (BT) (at 2 mm BT1 and 4 mm BT2 apical to the alveolar crest), gingival thickness (GT) (at cemento-enamel junction GTcej and bone crest GTbc), and periodontal supra-crestal tissue height (PSTH). A 3D facial scanner measured vertical dimensions (facial height FH, morphological facial height MFH, nasal height NH, lip height LH), and proportional indices (facial index FI, morphological facial index MFI, nasal index NI, and lip index LI). Pearson correlations were performed to determine relationships between periodontal and craniofacial variables with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons (α = 0.05). A total of 96 adults (576 maxillary anterior teeth) participated in this study. NI, FH, MFH, and NH correlated positively with BT1 (r > 0.3, p 0.3, p 0.3, p 0.3, p < 0.05). Brachyfacial morphology and broader/shorter nasal dimensions were found associated with thinner gingiva, reduced alveolar bone, and lower PSTH in the maxillary anterior region. These findings highlight craniofacial morphology as a potential predictor of periodontal vulnerability. People with shorter, broader facial structures tend to have thinner gum and bone tissues around teeth compared to those with longer, narrower faces, meaning their facial shape could help dentists predict and personalize treatments to avoid gum problems or implant issues.
Lin et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: