Dental esthetics is dependent on specifically defined relationships between the soft tissue, the teeth or implants, and the underlying osseous scaffold. A critical soft tissue dimension is required for long-term predictable support of the gingival margin, crestal bone and restorative esthetics. A thorough dental evaluation today is crucial to determine that gingival phenotype of the individual. Thickness of the gingiva, zone of attached tissue and tissue color all play important roles in developing the long-term health and esthetics in dental treatment of any kind. The exact determination of the location of the underlying bone acts as a prognostic indicator of future soft tissue levels.
