Periodontology Anatomy - Gingiva

Marin Contemporary Perio & Implant Concepts

The gums or gingiva, are made up of the mucosal tissue which lie over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth. Gum health and the presence of disease can have impact a patient’s overall health.

Structure

The gums are part of the soft tissue lining inside the mouth. The gums surround the base of the teeth and act as a seal. Unlike the soft tissues lining found on the lips and cheeks, most of the gums are tightly bound to the underlying bone. This aids them in resisting the friction of food passing over them. When the gums are healthy, they act as an effective barrier to the plethora of periodontal insults to the deeper tissues. Healthy gums are typically a coral pink color in lighter skinned people, and may be a bit darker with melanin pigmentation.

Any changes in color, specifically increased redness, combined with swelling and an increased likelihood to bleed, suggest an inflammation which is likely a result of the accumulation of bacterial plaque. The clinical appearance of the tissue reflects the underlying histology, in cases of both health and disease. When the gum tissue is unhealthy, it can act as a direct gateway for periodontal disease which can advance into the deeper tissue of the periodontium. This leads to a lower prognosis for the long-term retention of the teeth. Both the type of periodontal therapies and home hygiene instructions provided to patients by their dentist and restorative care are based on the clinical condition of the gum tissue.

Adiagram of the periodontium is provided. The crown of the tooth is covered by enamel (A). Dentin is just below the enamel (B). The root of the tooth is covered by cementum. To the right is the alveolar bone (C), the subepithelial connective tissue (D), oral epithelium (E) and free gingival margin (F).

The gums are divided anatomically into three different categories which include marginal, attached and interdental areas.

Characteristics of healthy gums

Healthy gums are usually pink in color and commonly described as a coral pink. Other colors such as red, white and blue can be signs of inflammation caused by gingivitis. Smoking tobacco or the use of drugs can also result in discoloration as. While healthy gums are described as a coral pink, there is often variation in color from patient to patient. This can be due to various factors including: the thickness and degree of keratinization of the epithelium, amount of blood flow to the gums, the skin’s natural pigmentation, underlying disease and medications.

Because the color of healthy gums can vary, a uniform color is more important than the specific underlying color. Excess deposits of melanin can also cause dark spots or patches on the gums. These dark spots can be especially prevalent at the base of the interdental papillae. Gum depigmentation or gum bleaching is a procedure which is commonly used in cosmetic dentistry to remove these dark spots.

Healthy gums also have a smooth curved or scalloped appearance. In addition, healthy gums fill and fit each space between the teeth. Full gums are different from swollen gum papilla, which is commonly seen in gingivitis or the empty interdental embrasure, which is often seen in periodontal disease. Healthy gums securely hold to each tooth and the gum surface narrows and becomes thin at the free gingival margin. In contrast, inflamed gums have are puffy appearance.

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When you come to Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, you can expect a friendly and professional dental team. Dr. Seda will listen carefully to your dental goals and provide a custom treatment plan that works with your budget and needs. We want you to fall in love with your smile again, so all our services are performed with the patient in mind. We want you to feel comfortable in the dental chair, and to feel confident in our services.

At Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, we aim to provide cutting edge perio and implant solutions in a comfortable and relaxed environment, where patients feel we put them first. Scheduling an appointment for All-on-4 Dental Implants is the first step towards being confident in your smile once again. To schedule an appointment, please contact us today at (415) 482-9901.