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. 2024 Apr 13;24(1):451.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-04189-7.

Relationship of skin complexion with gingival tissue color and hyperpigmentation. A multi-ethnic comparative study

Pradeep Koppolu  1 , Haifa Almutairi  2 , Safa Al Yousef  2 , Nisren Ansary  2 , Mohammed Noushad  3 , Mantri Bharath Vishal  4 , Lingam Amara Swapna  5 , Nouf Alsuwayyigh  2 , Malak Albalawi  2 , Deepti Shrivastava  6 , Kumar Chandan Srivastava  7   8
Affiliations

Relationship of skin complexion with gingival tissue color and hyperpigmentation. A multi-ethnic comparative study

Pradeep Koppolu et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background and objective: The most frequently seen intra-oral soft tissue is the gingiva. Most often, it is seen as coral-pink tissue that surrounds the neck of the teeth. Gingiva that encircles the tooth necks and covers the alveolar processes of the jaws is an intra-oral tissue that exhibits biomimetic features. The wide range of colors of the gingiva depends on the configuration of gingival vascularity, the degree of epithelial cornification, level of melanogenesis, and the depth of epithelialization. However, the color of the gingiva varies depending on the degree of melanin pigmentation. The current study aimed to identify the different distribution patterns of gingival color and determine the correlation between skin color, gender, and geographical area of origin.

Materials and methods: A total of 839 subjects were involved in the study where the gingival color and skin tone were measured using the Dummett-Gupta Oral pigmentation Index (DOPI) combined with VITA VMK MASTER and skin shade method developed by Revlon (USA) and L'Oreal (France) for makeup foundation shades. One investigator was calibrated for the examination of the colors after being tested for normal color vision and color aptitude using the line test.

Results: A significant association was found between skin color and gingival pigmentation (χ2 value (6) = 114.48; P = 0.001). It was also found that females (67.1%) significantly had darker gingiva than males (58.3%). The study statistics display that location of the individual was also statistically associated with melanin pigmentation of the gingiva (χ2 value (57) = 559.33; P = 0.001).

Conclusion: The study concluded that gender, skin color, and individual location are significantly associated with gingival melanin pigmentation.

Keywords: Complexion; Gingival pigmentation; Melanin; Skin color.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A-D): A- VITA VMK MASTER Gingival Shade Guide; B - Light Skin Shade; C - Medium Skin shade; D - Dark Skin Shade
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Graph showing the gingival category being distributed among the study population
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Graph showing the skin category being distributed among the study population
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Percentage distribution of gingival pigmentation among males
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Percentage distribution of pigmentation among females
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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