ASSOCIATION OF SKIN COLOR AND GINGIVAL HYPERPIGMENTATION AMONG SOUTH INDIAN POPULATIONRETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Melanin pigmentation of the gingiva occurs in all ethnicities. Excessive gingival pigmentation is considered to be an aesthetic concern among young adults. The aim of the present study was to correlate skin color and gingival hyperpigmentation in a group of South Indian Populations. A total of 200 patients who were nonsmoking, systemically healthy age groups of 18-30 years were included. Photographic examination of gingiva was performed to assess the anatomic distribution of gingival pigmentation. Subsequently, the skin color was visually examined and assessed as fair, wheatish, brown and dark.Six classes of gingival pigmentation were defined based on the anatomic distribution. Gingival pigmentation was observed as highest being in the attached gingiva (34%) and least being in the interdental papilla(2%). Association between skin color and gingival pigmentation was analysed using SPSS software and it was statistically significant (p<0.05). However no positive association was found between age, gender and gingival pigmentation.South Indians predominantly have pigmentation in attached gingiva and there was positive association between skin color and gingival pigmentation. Incidence of pigmentation did not differ based on age/gender distribution.