Gingival Phenotype and Dental Crowding in Pediatric Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Pediatric patients attending the Pediatric Dentistry and/or Orthodontics clinic (consultation and/or outpatient appointment). * Parents and/or legal guardians have signed the informed consent for participation in the study. * Age between 5 and 16 years. * Clinical dentition criteria by group: Group 1 (Primary Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of deciduous teeth from canine to canine. Group 2 (Early Mixed Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of at least two permanent mandibular incisors, fully erupted (incisal edge at occlusal level) or partially erupted (≥50% of the crown), with no clinical attachment loss, and healthy gingiva or mild gingivitis (Gingival Index, GI ≤ 1). Group 3 (Late Mixed Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of all four permanent mandibular incisors fully erupted (incisal edge at occlusal level), with no clinical attachment loss, and healthy gingiva or mild gingivitis (GI ≤ 1). Group 4 (Permanent Dentition): Presence in the mandibular arch of all four permanent mandibular incisors fully erupted (incisal edge at occlusal level), with no clinical attachment loss, and healthy gingiva or mild gingivitis (GI ≤ 1). Exclusion Criteria: Patient-related: * Parents and/or legal guardians have not signed the informed consent. * Patients who are not sufficiently cooperative to allow a routine dental examination. * Non-cooperative patients, including those with special needs. * Children with systemic diseases or undergoing medication that affects gingival tissues. * Patients who have already undergone orthodontic treatment or are currently undergoing orthodontic treatment. Tooth-related: * Presence of dental agenesis or dental anomalies. * Dental sites with mucogingival problems.