Macroscopic features of

the gingiva
Contents:
 Introduction
 Parts of gingiva
Marginal gingiva
Attached gingiva
Interdental gingiva
 Color
 Surface texture
 Contour
 Shape
 Size
 Consistency
 Position
INTRODUCTION:

The GINGIVA is a part of the oral mucosa which covers the alveolar process of
the jaws and surrounds the neck of the teeth.
 Parts of the gingiva:

The gingiva is divided anatomically into

 Marginal gingiva
 Attached gingiva
 Interdental gingiva
MARGINAL GINGIVA:
 The marginal gingiva is also called as UNATTACHED GINGIVA.
 It is the terminal edge or border of the gingiva that surrounds the teeth in
collar like fashion.
 It is demarcated from the attached gingiva by a shallow linear
depression called the free gingival groove.
 The marginal gingiva is usually about 1mm wide.
 The most apical point of the marginal gingival scallop is called the
gingival zenith.
 Its apicocoronal and mesiodistal dimensions vary between 0.06 and
0.96mm.
GINGIVAL SULCUS:

 The gingival sulcus is the shallow space around the tooth bonded by the
surface of the tooth on one side and the epithelium lining the free margins
of the gingiva on the other side.
 It is V shape and barely permits the entrance of a periodontal probe.
 The depth of the sulcus is about as 1.8mm.
 The depth of the gingival sulcus is an important diagnostic parameter.
 The probing depth of a normal gingival sulcus clinically is about 2-3mm.
ATTACHED GINGIVA
ATTACHED GINGIVA:
 The attached gingiva is continuous with the marginal gingiva.
 It is firm ,resilient and tightly bound to the underlying periosteum of the alveolar
bone.
 The facial aspect of the attached gingiva extends to the relatively loose or
movable alveolar mucosa it is demarcated by the mucogingival junction.
 The attached gingiva is in coronal direction demarcated by the free gingival
groove.
 Width of attached gingiva = distance between the mucogingival junction and the
projection on the external surface of the bottom of the gingival sulcus or the
periodontal pocket.
 Width on facial aspect ,incisor region ‘maxilla=3.5-4.5mm,mandible =3.3-
3.9mm’.posterior first premolar region ‘maxilla=1.9mm,mandible =1.8mm’.
 The free gingival groove is often most pronounced on the vestibular
aspect of the teeth.
 It is of firm texture, coral pink in color and often shows small depressions
on the surface.
 The depression is named as stippling gives the appearance of orange
peel.
INTERDENTAL GINGIVA
INTERDENTAL GINGIVA:
 The Interdental Gingiva occupies the gingival embrasure which is the
interproximal space beneath the area of tooth contact.
 It can be pyramidal or it can have COL SHAPE
 The shape of the gingiva in a given interdental space depends on the
presence or absence of contact point between the adjacent teeth, the
distance between contact point and the osseus crest and presence or
absence of some degrees of recession.
COLOR :

 Color of the Gingiva is described as Coral Pink.

 Variation in gingival pigmentation is not produced by variation in the
number of pigment forming melanocytes but by genetically determined
variation in their pigment producing capacity.
FACTORS AFFECTING COLOR OF
GINGIVA:
 Vascular supply
 Thickness of the epithelium
 Degree of keratinization
 Presence of pigment containing cells
SURFACE TEXTURE:
 The surface texture of free gingiva is smooth whereas of attached gingiva is
stippled.
 Pitted surface texture giving orange peel appearance is called as stippling
which is more prominent on the labial than on the lingual gingival surfaces.
 Stippling is normally present on attached gingiva and center of interdental
papilla.
 Microscopically it is produced by alternate rounded protuberance and
depressions on the gingival surface. The papillary layer of the CT projects into
the elevations, and is covered by stratified squamous epithelium.
CONTOUR:
 The marginal gingiva envelops the teeth in collar like fashion and
follows a scalloped outline on the facial and lingual surfaces normally
and straight line along with a relatively flat surfaces.
 The contour of gingiva depends upon shape and alignment of the teeth in
the arch.
 It also depends on the location and size of the area of proximal contacts
and dimensions of the embrasures.
SHAPE:
 Shape of interdental gingiva depends upon contour of the proximal
surface of tooth surface.
 The height of the interdental gingiva varies with the location of the
proximal contact.
 The interdental papilla is pyramidal in normal contact areas and in
anterior region. It is flattened in a buccolingual direction in the molar
region.
SIZE:

 The size of gingiva corresponds to the sum total of the bulk of cellular
and intercellular elements and their vascular supply.
 Alteration in size is a common feature of gingival disease.
CONSISTENCY:
 The gingiva should be firm, resilient and tightly bound to the
underlying hard tissues.
 The collagenous nature of the lamina propria and its contiguity with the
mucoperiosteum of the alveolar bone determine the firmness of the
attached gingiva.
POSITION:
 The position is the level which the gingival margin is attached to the
teeth.
 When the tooth erupts into the oral cavity, the margin and sulcus are at
the tip of the crown , as eruption progress , they are seen closer to the
root.
References :
CARRANZA ‘S – Clinical periodontology
SHALU BATHLA – Textbook of periodontics