Abrar Bakhsh,Christopher Scott ,Dina Stappert ,
Prospective Clinical Investigation of Orthodontic Relapse from Gingival Clefts
Dental Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research
2020
2613-4950
http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.DOBCR.2020.01.05
https://www.sciencerepository.org/prospective-clinical-investigation_DOBCR-2020-1-105 
Abstract: Background: Orthodontic space closure following premolar extraction may result in gingival cleft
formation. This may contribute to orthodontic relapse due to reopening of extraction spaces.
Purpose: 1) To see the effects gingival clefts have on relapse and opening of closed extraction spaces after
orthodontic treatment. 2) To record any changes in cleft severity that may occur. 3) To evaluate any
relationship between gingival phenotype and cleft severity.
Methods: Subjects recruited from previous study in which gingival clefts were measured during space
closure. The clinical measures included the occurrence and severity of clefts and their relationship to
gingival phenotype.
Results: Sites with a cleft (N=42) had 42.86% relapse and those without (N=19) had 36.84% relapse.
Conclusions: As gingival cleft severity increases, the amount of relapse distance is likely to increase.
Patients with a thick gingival phenotype who obtain gingival clefts in extraction sites during orthodontic
treatment are more likely to have relapse post-treatment compared to sites which did not develop a gingival
cleft.Keywords: Gingival clefts, orthodontic relapse, retention