Evaluation of the association between gingival phenotype and alveolar bone thickness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that evaluated the association between gingival phenotype (GP) and the underlying alveolar bone thickness (ABT). DESIGN An electronic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, and Web of Science. The following inclusion criteria were applied: English original studies that compared the ABT in periodontally healthy patients presenting thin versus thick GPs. Studies that evaluated the correlation between gingival thickness (GT) and ABT were also included. Pooled mean difference (95% confidence interval) was estimated using random-effects maximum likelihood model meta-analysis. RESULTS From a total of 1427 retrieved articles, 17 were included. The majority of eight studies that compared the ABT between thick and thin GPs, reported a significantly greater ABT associated with a thick phenotype. Based on the meta-analysis results of six studies, the mean difference between the two phenotypes (0.33 mm) was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The majority of ten studies that investigated the correlation between GT and ABT evidenced a significant positive correlation (r = 0.11 -0.49). The association was more evident in the crestal areas and decreased toward the apex. CONCLUSIONS There is contradictory evidence concerning the correlation between soft and hard tissue thickness; however, the meta-analysis revealed a significantly thicker alveolar plate in the presence of a thick phenotype. Since the evaluation of GP could be simply performed using a periodontal probe, such a relationship could provide clinical perspective at the initial examination. This is particularly beneficial in procedures affecting periodontal structures, including immediate implant placement and orthodontic treatments.