Periodontal biotype: anatomic features and association with surrounding tissue

The high prevalence of periodontal diseases, up to 90%, is an important issue in medicine. The periodontal biotype is one of the most important parameters that determine the course and prognosis of periodontal diseases. Gingival thickness, keratinized tissue, and bone morphology are the main characteristics of the periodontal biotype. This article presents a review of the literature on the characteristics of periodontal biotypes, their response to treatment, and treatment prognosis. A search of electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, CyberLeninka, Elibrary, and RINC) was performed for the literature review. The article also presents studies about relationships among periodontal biotype, recession, and malocclusion. The thin biotype is a predictive factor of gingival recession. Recessions are characterized by apical migration of marginal gingiva and defects in root coverage. Gingival recession may result from orthodontic movement of teeth, particularly among patients with the thin gingival biotype. The thin and thick biotypes respond differently to inflammation, restorative and surgical effects, and parafunctional habits. A gingival thickness greater than 2 mm can be categorized as the thick biotype and less than 1,5 mm as the thin biotype. Gingival thickness can affect the results of restorative therapy and root coverage procedures. It is necessary to determine the gingival biotype before initiating treatment. Special care must be taken when planning treatment for cases with a thin biotype.