Cross-sectional study to evaluate variations in attached gingiva and gingival sulcus in the three periods of dentition.

The dimensional differences of the attached gingiva and gingival sulcus in the primary, mixed and permanent dentition were studied clinically in normal gingivae of 382 children, aged 4-15 years. The depth of the gingival sulcus and the width of keratinized gingiva were also measured. Shallow gingival sulcus was observed in the primary dentition as compared to that in permanent dentition. However, in the mixed dentition deeper sulcus was observed around the newly erupted teeth. This was attributed to deeper penetration of the instrument, at the time of eruption. The widest zone of attached gingiva was observed in maxillary and mandibular incisors, decreasing gradually over the cuspids and first premolars (first primary molars), and again attached gingiva increased in second premolars (second primary molars) and first and second permanent molars. The width of attached gingiva in case of newly erupted permanent teeth (mixed dentition) was narrower in the corresponding primary teeth. This was due to an increase in the gingival sulcus depth. The attached gingiva increased in width with age. This was related to a concomitant reduction in sulcus depth.