Improvement potential of isolated gingival recession in children.

Eighteen cases showing gingival recession of one mandibular central incisor at a mean age of 9.4 years were recalled 3.9 to 20 years (mean 10.2 years) later. No specific measures had been directed towards the defect except in one case. The gingival status of affected teeth was compared to unaffected adjacent central incisors on an intra-individual basis. No significant difference between groups of affected and control teeth could be shown at the follow-up examination with regard to marginal gingiva level, sulcus depth, bleeding, width of keratinized or attached gingiva, nor in alveolar bone height. Levelling of marginal gingiva in most cases, however, was found to have occurred by a more apical migration of the gingival margin of control teeth. The role of developmental changes in the dentition during growth are discussed, and the importance of recording such parameters in further studies of gingival health in children is underlined.