The Impact of Orthodontic Treatment on Pre-Existing Gingival Recessions: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

(1) Background: This retrospective study aimed to examine the change of gingival recessions (GR) before and after orthodontic treatment (OT). (2) Methods: Patients who had at least one GR on the vestibular surface of maxillary/mandibular teeth mesial to first molars were included. GR was measured on good quality plaster models before and after OT. (3) Results: Significant improvement of mean GR at patient level was found between T0 and T1 (0.45 mm, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.62) (p p p = 0.008) and dental Class III patients (OR 2.6; CI: 1.11, 6.0; p = 0.026). (4) Conclusions: There was an improvement of GR after OT in more than half of the patients. Class III malocclusion and reduced pre-treatment overbite had a negative impact on GR improvement.

Keywords

• gingival recession
• orthodontics
• tooth movement