MUCOGINGIVAL LESIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 2017 CLASSIFICATION OF PERIODONTAL DISEASES

Abstract

Gingival recession is defined as an apical displacement of the gingival margin in relation to the enamel-cement junction; this is associated with loss of attachment and exposure of the root surface in the oral environment. Although the aetiology of gingival recessions remains unclear, some predisposing factors have been suggested. The proposed clinical elements for a classification of treatment-oriented recession are the depth of recession, gingival thickness, and clinical attachment level. Although they do not necessarily lead to dental loss, gingival recessions result in a decrease in the patient’s quality of life through complications that may occur in their presence (dentinal hypersensitivity, root lesions or aesthetic disorders). Cairo proposed a classification of types of recessions and the classification of periodontal diseases in 2017 includes additional information such as periodontal biotype, severity of recession, residual gingival size, presence / absence of caries and non-carious cervical lesions, patient’s aesthetic concern and presence dentinal hypersensitivity. The purpose of this paper is to present a clinically oriented classification of mucosal diseases and to define the impact on the patient of localization of these conditions in terms of aesthetics, dentinal hypersensitivity and changes of the root surface at the level of the cervical area.

Keywords

• dental aesthetics
• dentinal hypersensitivity
• gingival recession
• periodontal biotype