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Prevalence, Risk Indicators, and Patient‐Reported Outcomes of Labial Gingival Recession Following Orthodontic Treatment: A Retrospective Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, distribution, and risk indicators of gingival recession (GR) following orthodontic treatment (OT) in both private and hospital-based settings, and to evaluate its impact on patient satisfaction and willingness to seek corrective treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and radiographic records from baseline to follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Additionally, participants completed a survey on satisfaction, perception of GR if present, and willingness to seek corrective treatment. Incident and persistent GR were analyzed separately. Bayesian mixed-effects logistic regression with weakly informative priors was used to identify risk indicators for incident GR. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients (2030 teeth; mean age: 20.7 ± 9.7 years) were included. GR prevalence increased from 1.7% at baseline to 2.0% at appliance removal and continued to rise during the retention phase (3%-5%), with a site-specific distribution. Among 1996 teeth free of GR at baseline, 49 developed incident GR. A thin-scalloped gingival phenotype was the strongest risk indicator for incident GR (OR = 4.10; 95% CrI: 1.25-13.46). Most baseline GR persisted throughout follow-up. Satisfaction with OT remained high (mean score: 8.99 ± 1.04 on a 10-point scale) and was not significantly influenced by GR or treatment setting. CONCLUSIONS: Gingival recession occurrence after orthodontic treatment is time- and site-dependent. A thin-scalloped gingival phenotype is the main risk indicator for incident GR, whereas pre-existing recession is highly persistent. Despite its occurrence, gingival recession had limited impact on patient satisfaction. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides long-term, multicenter data on gingival recession following orthodontic treatment, and is the first to assess its impact on patient perception. The findings may help inform risk-based treatment planning and individualized patient counseling in orthodontic care.

Source: Clinical and Experimental Dental Research

DOI: 10.1002/cre2.70483