Prevalence and Periodontal Conditions of Developmental Grooves in an Italian School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to (i) determine the prevalence and distribution of developmental grooves in a young population and (ii) to evaluate the local periodontal conditions. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-one students with a mean age of 22.9 ± 4.7, attending the School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene of Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (Milan, Italy) were included. The subjects underwent a clinical evaluation by two calibrated examiners. The following clinical parameters were recorded for each site presenting a radicular groove and for each corresponding site on an adjacent tooth used as control: probing pocket depth, plaque index, bleeding on probing, recession depth. Results: The prevalence of radicular grooves at patient and tooth level was 15.9% and 5%, respectively. When compared to control sites, the number of teeth with a radicular groove that presented plaque and bleeding on probing was higher. The logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of radicular grooves was significantly associated with the presence of plaque (OR, 6.14, p < 0.001) and of bleeding on probing (OR, 2.91, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The presence of radicular grooves increases the possibility of developing gingival inflammation by acting as a plaque retentive factor.

Morphological and morphometric characteristics of labial-cervical-vertical groove in upper central incisor

“…The LCVG prevalence in this study was 7.2%, which is significantly higher than the one found by Kogon [11] of 0.14%, however it is not too contrasting to the following reports of clinical studies: 6,5% by Brin e Ben-Bassat [3], 4,5% by Mass et al [13], 5,3% by Shpack et al [15] and 5% in Di Domenico et al [7]. It is worth mentioning that the findings of Mass et al [13] and Shpack et al [15] refer to LCVG prevalence in all four Maxillary Incisor.…”

“…Some studies describe periodontal changes associated to the presence of LCVG where the periodontal pocket probing depth exceeded 5 mm. Di Domenico et al [7] in a cross-sectional study, with two hundred and fifty-one patients show that presence of radicular grooves increases the possibility of developing gingival inflammation by acting as a plaque retentive factor. Shah et al [14] published a case report where the periodontal bone loss was directly related to LCVG in the UCI and pocket depth recorded in the area was of 11 mm on the mesial and 8 mm on the buccal aspect, while the tooth was vital and without mobility or history of trauma.…”

“…Mass et al [13] also evaluated the depth of the groove at three different points of the buccal surface of the upper incisors, finding statistically significant difference between incisors presenting the defect (1.55 ± 0.90 mm) and the ones without the defect (1.18 ± 0.75 mm) only when the central region was compared. The papers of Brin e Ben-Bassat [3], Di Domenico et al [7], Mass et al [13] and Shpack et al [15] refer to clinical studies involving erupted teeth and intrasulcular probing and therefore the full extent of root defect could not be evaluated. Thus, the laboratorial data obtained in the present study cannot be perfectly compared to these other reports but contribute to the perception that LCVG root extension may jeopardize the periodontal support for elements affected by this anomaly.…”

The endodontic‐periodontal juncture: Where two worlds meet. An overview of endo‐perio lesions

“…Radicular grooves, which are sometimes also referred to as palato‐gingival grooves, are believed to occur when there is incomplete infolding of the enamel organ and HERS during tooth root development 27 . They are most commonly found on the disto‐palatal surface of maxillary incisor teeth and are more common in lateral incisors than in central incisors 28,29 . They may also occur on the lingual surface of mandibular second molars 30 …”

“…27 They are most commonly found on the disto-palatal surface of maxillary incisor teeth and are more common in lateral incisors than in central incisors. 28,29 They may also occur on the lingual surface of mandibular second molars. 30 Localized plaque and calculus accumulation can occur in radicular grooves because they are difficult for patients to keep clean and often present in association with a deep pocket.…”