A decided attitude of expectation among many patients has given a new perspective to regenerative and plastic periodonta surgery. With authors emphasizing on the importance of gingival thickness, attempts are being made to obtain necessary information atraumatically and rapidly. Hence in the present study an attempt has been made to compare the two methods of assessing gingival thickness i.e transgingival probing and ultrasonographic method and also assess the gingival thickness in relation to central incisor lateral incisor and canine in Indian population. The gingival thickness was assessed in patients with healthy gingiva by both the methods. It was observed that transgingival probing method significantly over estimated the thickness of gingiva than the ultrasonographic method and the thickness of gingiva varies with morphology of the crown. It was concluded that compared to transgingival probing ultrasonographic method assesses gingiva thickness more accurately, rapidly and atraumatically.The gingival thickness was assessed mid-buccally in the attached gingiva, half way between mucogingival junction and free gingival groove [11] and at the base of the interdental papilla [Figure – 1]. The thickness of gingiva was assessed at both the measurement points tooth wise i.e. at central incisor, lateral incisor and canine by both TGP and USG methods. The measurement points on the facial gingiva were marked with a marking pencil
The ultrasound A-scan* measuring 13.5"x 7", included a digital display, scan display, a transducer probe, built in printer and foot switch. The frequency is 10 MHZ 10
The ultrasonic measurement was done using A – scan which makes use of pulse echo principle. The transducer probe was adapted to the gingival surface coinciding with the bleeding point created during transgingival probing [Figure – 3]. The mechanism of action of ultrasound based on the transit time for the pulse (ultrasound wave)tutravelto the bone (hard tissue) and echoed back creates spikes on the monitor immediately. Utilizing the print out of this graph and with the help of the optical projector, the thickness of gingiva was determined
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