The Importance of Gingival Treatment and Prevention

**3**

**Chapter 1**

**1. Introduction**

treatments.

contact point [2].

ment 1.07 mm (**Figure 3**).

investigation of oral or systemic disturbances.

*dental treatment?*

Introductory Chapter: The

and Prevention

*Alaa Eddin Omar Al Ostwani*

Importance of Gingival Treatment

Gingiva, with its unique texture and coral pink color [1], is the most delicate tissue in the oral cavity and the first essential component of the periodontium (**Figure 1**).

*Why is it too much important to confirm a healthy gingiva before proceeding to* 

Nowadays, the importance of gingiva is increasing because of its interrelationship with the general health and the direct esthetic effect on most dental

The teeth are supported and held in position within the alveolar bone by means of the periodontium. The latter consists of gingiva, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and cementum (**Figure 1**). The gingiva, which covers the alveolar bone, is classified as a masticatory portion of oral mucosa. Anatomically, there are three demarcated parts of gingiva. First, the marginal gingiva, which is the free end of gingiva with a smooth surface, enclosing the neck of the teeth as a collar shape to define the gingival sulcus. The second part is the attached gingiva which is stippled, firm, and strongly attached to the alveolar bone and to the cervical area of the tooth by means of junctional epithelium located in the floor of gingival sulcus. The conjunction between the free and attached gingiva is a shallow linear depression called gingival groove. The attached gingiva extends apically to the oral mucosa, from which it is demarcated by mucogingival junction (**Figure 2**). The third part is the interdental zone of gingiva, which is nonkeratinized and located in the area between the two adjacent teeth beneath the

The biological width or the supracrestal tissue attachment is a natural protective layer, which seals and preserves the periodontium from bacterial invasion, located in the deeper part of gingival sulcus and measuring 2.04 mm in depth, which is the sum of junctional epithelium 0.97 mm and supracrestal connective tissue attach-

These delicate anatomical structures of the periodontium should be respected and well considered by the dentist while planning and managing oral and dental diseases. Furthermore, any changes detected in the normal appearance or texture of gingiva as well as periodontal attachment might guide the dentist to a further
