Disparities in gingival height in the mandibular central incisor region of children aged 6–12 years

An investigation of disparate gingival heights of the mandibular central incisor region in 93 children aged from 6 to 12 years was undertaken. Unaffected paired teeth demonstrated an age-associated increase in clinical crown length, similar to previous reports, suggesting a gradual remodelling of soft tissues. Affected teeth displayed a rapid increase in clinical crown length suggesting that by age 10 years true recession had occurred. Significant associations with gingival inflammation (at the 0.1% level), and with anterior crowding (at the 0.2% level), occurred. Frenal involvement did not influence the position of the gingival margin.