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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 87-92

Identification of gingival pigmentation patterns and its correlation with skin color, gender and gingival phenotype in an Indian population


Department of Periodontology, SMBT Dental College and Hospital, Sangamner, Maharashtra, India

Date of Web Publication6-Jan-2017

Correspondence Address:
Harshal Pradip Patil
Department of Periodontology, SMBT Dental College and Hospital, Sangamner - 422 008, Maharashtra
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/2229-6360.197763

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  Abstract 

Objectives: Esthetics and smile-enhancing treatments have become an integral part of the dentistry; people always consult with periodontist for obtaining acceptable gingival esthetics. In smile designing esthetics, the color of gingiva has a major role. Although there is no any gold standard technique for managing melanin hyperpigmentation, esthetic concerns have lead increasing awareness about different depigmentation procedures. The aim of this study is to identify gingival melanin pigmentation patterns and to investigate its relationship based on clinical analysis with skin color, gender and gingival phenotype for various treatment modalities.
Methods: In total, 200 subjects without any systemic disease (100 males and 100 females with mean age 26.5 years) screened by a single person and categorized them by skin color as fair, wheatish, brown, and dark to identify the different distribution patterns of gingival melanin pigmentation anatomically. Along with this severity of melanin pigmentation and gingival phenotypes were assessed. By using a Chi-square test correlations of variables were checked.
Results: A positive statistical correlation was noticed between severity of gingival pigmentation and skin color. Dark-skinned subjects had heavy gingival pigmentation. The majority of population had pigmentation in attached gingiva and interdental papillae.
Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, the majority of population showed a positive correlation with their skin color and the severity of melanin pigmentation.

Keywords: Gingival phenotype; gingival pigmentation; Indian; melanin pigmentation; skin color


How to cite this article:
Rakhewar PS, Patil HP, Thorat M. Identification of gingival pigmentation patterns and its correlation with skin color, gender and gingival phenotype in an Indian population. Indian J Multidiscip Dent 2016;6:87-92

How to cite this URL:
Rakhewar PS, Patil HP, Thorat M. Identification of gingival pigmentation patterns and its correlation with skin color, gender and gingival phenotype in an Indian population. Indian J Multidiscip Dent [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 29];6:87-92. Available from: https://www.ijmdent.com/text.asp?2016/6/2/87/197763


  Introduction Top


The gingiva covers the alveolar processes and surrounds the necks of the teeth. [1] The ideal color of normal gingiva is pink (salmon or coral pink). The color of normal gingiva varies due to intensity of melanin pigmentation which is more pronounced in blacks and Asians compared to Caucasians. [2] Oral pigmentations may be physiologic or pathologic, and it occurs in all human races and all nationalities. Normal color of gingiva is contributed by different types of pigments such as melanoid, carotene, reduced hemoglobin, soft keratin, and oxyhemoglobin. Out of this melanin pigmentation is the most common color variation often seen in gingival tissue. Dummett reported the occurrence of oral pigmentation as gingival tissues 60%, hard palate 61%, mucous membrane 22%, and tongue 15%. [3] Gingival hyperpigmentation is due to excessive melanin deposition by the melanocytes which mainly locate in the basal and suprabasal cell layers of the epithelium. [4] Pigmentation may be of a localized anomaly of limited significance or of multisystem diseases. [5] The severity of melanin pigmentation depends on a variety of factors mostly the megaloblastic activity and varies person to person. [6] Indian population have various color shades from fair to dark. [7] Ponnaiyan et al. study on South Indians showed pigmentation was maximum in attached gingiva and interdental papilla with positive correlation with skin color.

Although gingival hyperpigmentation is not any disease, it can be an esthetic problem for a subject with gummy smile. [8] Because of this, people with hyperpigmentation demand for depigmentation therapy. For better treatment strategies understanding the distribution patterns of pigmentation is very important. However, very limited data are available in the literature regarding the distribution patterns of gingival pigmentation and its severity in an Indian population. The present study was conducted to identify the different distribution patterns of gingival melanin pigmentation and to find out the correlation between skin color, gender, severity of melanin pigmentation, and the gingival phenotype.


  Methods Top


The present study was conducted in the outpatient department of SMBT Dental College and Hospital, India for a month. The study was approved by Institutional Ethical Committee of SMBT Dental College. In total, 200 healthy controls with mean age 26.5 years (age group: 15-40 years) were included. Subject was selected by simple randomization method. The sample size was determined by a formula where P = 65%, for 5% level of significance Z 2α/2 = 1.96.

After explaining the purpose of study, informed consent was obtained from all subjects. A clinical examination of gingiva was performed by a single trained examiner to identify the different anatomic distribution patterns of gingival pigmentation, severity of gingival pigmentation, and gingival phenotype. The skin color was visually examined by comparing with shade guide and divided into 4 categories (fair, wheatish, brown, and dark). [9] Subjects having uniformly pigmented and nonmottled gingiva was included. Patients were excluded if they had chemical skin toning, albinism, mixed racial skin, periodontitis or any gingival pathology; drug or chemical pigmentation, mottling, and subgingival restorations.

Examination of gingival pigmentation and skin color

By using a Dummett's Oral Pigmentation Index [10] evaluation of the intensity of physiologic gingival pigmentation was carried out. The scoring pattern is like:

  • 0 = Pink tissue (no clinical pigmentation)
  • 1 = Mild, light brown tissue (mild clinical pigmentation)
  • 2 = Medium brown or mixed pink or brown tissue (moderate clinical pigmentation)
  • 3 = Deep brown or blue/black tissue (heavy clinical pigmentation).


Oral pigmentation was considered darker with higher the score. One investigator was tested for normal color vision. Intraoral photographs were obtained using a digital camera (Canon EOS 600D Taiwan). On computer display, the distribution patterns of gingival pigmentation were examined in anterior and posterior region. Under natural light visual examination of inner aspect of upper arm (less exposed to ultraviolet rays) was carried out and comparing it with shade guide, subjects were categorized into 4 categories as fair, wheatish, brown, and dark. The pigmentations patterns according to anatomic location were recorded. The gingival phenotypes were categorized as thick and thin based on visibility of periodontal probe after inserting into the sulcus. [11] Single trained person carried out all these examinations.

Statistical analysis

Chi-square test was performed using GraphPad Prism version 5.00 for Windows, (GraphPad Software, San Diego California USA), www.graphpad.com and correlations of variables were checked.


  Results Top


After complete examination, patterns of anatomic distribution of gingival pigmentation were grouped into 7 classes such as Class I-no pigmentation [Figure 1], Class II-pigmentation in marginal gingiva only [Figure 2], Class III-pigmentation in interdental papillae only [Figure 3], Class IV-pigmentation in attached gingiva only [Figure 4], Class V-pigmentation in marginal gingiva and interdental papillae [Figure 5], Class VI-pigmentation in attached gingiva and interdental papillae [Figure 6], and Class VII-diffuse pigmentation involving all parts of gingiva [Figure 7]. It was noted that least pigmentation was observed in marginal gingiva alone (Class II) and more in the attached gingiva and interdental papillae (Class VI) [Figure 8]. The majority of subjects had wheatish (46%), brown (39%), and fair (9%) complexions and least with dark skin color (6%). The positive correlation was observed along skin color and intensity of gingival pigmentation. Skin color correlated with severity of gingival melanin pigmentation which was highly significant [Table 1]. Wheatish subjects had mild (23%) to moderate (15%) gingival pigmentation, fair subjects had mild gingival pigmentation (3%) whereas dark subjects had moderate (2%) to heavy pigmentation (3%); [Figure 9]. There were no significant correlations observed between genders, pigmentation patterns, phenotypes, and severity of pigmentation. Although 52% and 48% of subjects had thick and thin phenotype, respectively [Table 2] and [Table 3].
Figure 1: Class I - no pigmentation

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Figure 2: Class II - pigmentation in marginal gingiva only

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Figure 3: Class III - pigmentation in interdental papillae only

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Figure 4: Class IV - pigmentation in attached gingiva only

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Figure 5: Class V - pigmentation in marginal gingiva and interdental papillae

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Figure 6: Class VI - pigmentation in attached gingiva and interdental papillae

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Figure 7: Class VII - diffuse pigmentation involving all parts of gingiva

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Figure 8: Prevalence of anatomic distribution of gingival pigmentation

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Figure 9: Correlation of skin color with intensity of gingival pigmentation

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Table 1: Correlation between skin color and intensity of gingival pigmentation


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Table 2: Correlation between gender and distribution of gingival pigmentation


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Table 3: Correlation of phenotype of gingiva and intensity of pigmentation


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  Discussion Top


Gingival hyperpigmentation is a condition of major concern, and many patients confronted to the periodontist with the unaesthetic problem of dark gingiva which is genetically present in some population called as physiologic or racial pigmentation. In the present study, seven pigmentation patterns were identified. Majority of the subjects had pigmentation in the attached gingiva and interdental papillae (Class VI) which agrees with study done on South Indian population [12] which is in contrast to an Israeli Jewish population study [13] and South African Bantu population study [14] where they observed attached gingiva and interdental papillae only to be the most common pigmented sites respectively which may be due to the race wise variations. Furthermore, color of gingiva and facial complexion showed a positive correlation. Dark subjects observed with heavy gingival pigmentation and fair subjects with mild pigmentation in agreement with a study on the Indian population. [15] Thus, skin color can predict mucosal and gingival pigmentation. The study population in the present study comprised an equal number of males and females, which enabled comparisons with regards to gender. There was no significant correlation observed between gingival pigmentation patterns and gender which is in agreement with the previous studies in other races. [16],[17] Furthermore, the correlation between severity of pigmentation and gingival phenotype was nonsignificant. The present study considered one more criteria of no gingival pigmentation at all (class I) which was not considered in the previous study carried out by Ponnaiyan et al. and patterns are classified based on increasing intensity and number of anatomic parts of gingiva involved. [12]

Nowadays demand for gingival depigmentation therapy is common and various different methods such as scalpel method, [18],[19] Gingivectomy, [20] gingivectomy with free gingival autografting, [21] acellular dermal matrix allografting, [22] electrosurgery, [23] cryosurgery, [24] chemical agents like 90% phenol and 95% alcohol, [25] abrasion with diamond bur, [26] neodymium-doped: yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser, [27] erbium-doped: YAG lasers, [28] semiconductor diode laser, [29] and CO 2 laser [30] have been used. Gingival recession, injury to underlying periosteum and bone, delayed wound healing, and loss of healthy enamel are common disadvantages by these procedures that's why should be performed carefully especially when phenotype is thin. If gingival phenotype is thick for depigmentation procedure, we can use gingivectomy by scalpel, abrasive technique, laser, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, chemical depigmentation. If phenotype is thin, there will be more chances of getting marginal tissue recession after depigmentation procedures and we can go for gingivectomy with free gingival grafting, acellular dermal matrix allograft or chemical depigmentation. Out of these various treatment modalities, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, and laser depigmentation showed least recurrence of pigmentations than bur abrasion and scalpel technique. [31] That's why in dark subject bur abrasion and scalpel technique should be used with caution where recurrence rate is maximum due to increased intrinsic melanogenesis compare to fairs. [32]

Considering the above observations of the gingival pigmentation with their distribution patterns, intensity, biotype, and correlation with gender and skin color; future controlled-multicenter and large sample study should be carried out to generalize these observations in the population.


  Conclusion Top


It can be concluded from our present study that there is the presence of seven different pigmentation patterns among the Indian population. The majority of population have pigmentation in attached gingiva and interdental papillae (Type VI) with positive correlation between intensity of pigmentation and facial complexion. No male and female predilection observed. Gingival phenotype is not associated with severity of pigmentation.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

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    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6], [Figure 7], [Figure 8], [Figure 9]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]


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