RESUMO
The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and the distribution of the attachment loss and gingival recession at facial tooth surfaces in a population sample with a high standard of oral hygiene, at the same time, to determine the occurrence of gingival recession. An additional aim was to study the relationship between attachment loss and gingival recession and its relation to its etiologic factors. The subject sample comprised of 100 male and female dental students in the University of the East between the ages of 18 and 26 with a minimum of 25 natural teeth, no advance periodontitis or history of periodontal surgery were examined, gingival recession was scored as present whenever the free gingival margin was apical to the c.e.i. and root surface was exposed. The clinical examination involved assessment of gingivitis, probing depth, probing attachment and gingival recessions. The results of the combined cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis performed in the study demonstrated among 100 U.E. dental students with a high standard of oral hygiene showed that: 1) Facial gingival recessions was a frequent finding due to the compensatory and remodelling process caused by loss of approximal periodontal attachment; 2) Prevalence and distribution of gingival recessions is independent with the presence of attachment loss; 3) Facial gingival recessions can exist with or without attachment loss and teeth without gingival recessions may or may not present attachment loss; 4) And presence of gingival recessions in patients with a high standard of oral hygiene can either be attributed to orthodontic treatment or wrong toothbrushing technique, too much strength exerted in brushing, overbrushing, and usage of hard toothbrush bristles.