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Gingiva
The gums or gingiva (: gingivae) consist of the mucosal tissue that lies over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth. Gum health and disease can have an effect on general health. Structure The gums are part of the soft tissue lining of the mouth. They surround the teeth and provide a seal around them. Unlike the soft tissue linings of the lips and cheeks, most of the gums are tightly bound to the underlying bone which helps resist the friction of food passing over them. Thus when healthy, it presents an effective barrier to the barrage of periodontal insults to deeper tissue. Healthy gums are usually coral pink in light skinned people, and may be naturally darker with melanin pigmentation. Changes in color, particularly increased redness, together with swelling and an increased tendency to bleed, suggest an inflammation that is possibly due to the accumulation of bacterial plaque. Overall, the clinical appearance of the tissue reflects the underlying histology, both in hea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gingival Hyperplasia
Gingival enlargement is an increase in the size of the gingiva (gums). It is a common feature of gingival disease. Gingival enlargement can be caused by a number of factors, including inflammatory conditions and the side effects of certain medications. The treatment is based on the cause. A closely related term is epulis, denoting a localized tumor (i.e. lump) on the gingiva. Classification The terms gingival hyperplasia and gingival hypertrophy have been used to describe this topic in the past. These are not precise descriptions of gingival enlargement because these terms are strictly histology, histologic medical diagnosis, diagnoses, and such diagnoses require microscope, microscopic analysis of a tissue sample. Hyperplasia refers to an increased number of cell (biology), cells, and hypertrophy refers to an increase in the size of individual cells. As these identifications cannot be performed with a clinical examination and evaluation of the tissue, the term ''gingival enlarge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Free Gingival Margin
In dental anatomy, the free gingival margin is the interface between the sulcular epithelium and the epithelium of the oral cavity. This interface exists at the most coronal point of the gingiva, otherwise known as the crest of the marginal gingiva. Because the short part of gingiva existing above the height of the underlying alveolar process of maxilla, known as the free gingiva, is not bound down to the periosteum that envelops the bone, it is moveable. However, due to the presence of gingival fibers such as the dentogingival and circular fibers, the free gingiva remains pulled up against the surface of the tooth unless being pushed away by, for example, a periodontal probe or the bristles of a toothbrush. Gingival retraction or recession ''Gingival retraction'' or ''gingival recession'' is when there is lateral movement of the gingival margin away from the tooth surface. It is usually termed ''gingival retraction'' as an intentional procedure, and in such cases it is perfor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a non-destructive disease that causes inflammation of the gums; ulitis is an alternative term. The most common form of gingivitis, and the most common form of periodontal disease overall, is in response to bacterial biofilms (also called plaque) that are attached to tooth surfaces, termed ''plaque-induced gingivitis''. Most forms of gingivitis are plaque-induced. While some cases of gingivitis never progress to periodontitis, periodontitis is always preceded by gingivitis. Gingivitis is reversible with good oral hygiene; however, without treatment, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, in which the inflammation of the gums results in tissue destruction and bone resorption around the teeth. Periodontitis can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Signs and symptoms The symptoms of gingivitis are somewhat non-specific and manifest in the gum tissue as the classic signs of inflammation: *Swollen gums *Bright red gums *Gums that are tender or painful to the touch *B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gingival Fibers
In dental anatomy, the gingival fibers are the connective tissue fibers that inhabit the gingiva, gingival tissue (gums) adjacent to Tooth, teeth and help hold the tissue firmly against the teeth. They are primarily composed of type I collagen, although type III fibers are also involved. These fibers, unlike the fibers of the periodontal ligament, in general, attach the tooth to the gingival tissue, rather than the tooth to the alveolar bone. Functions of the gingival fibers The gingival fibers accomplish the following tasks: *They hold the free gingival margin, marginal gingiva against the tooth *They provide the marginal gingiva with enough rigidity to withstand the forces of mastication without distorting *They serve to stabilize the marginal gingiva by uniting it with both the tissue of the more rigid attached gingiva as well as the cementum layer of the tooth. Gingival fibers and periodontitis In theory, gingival fibers are the protectors against periodontitis, as once they ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bleeding On Probing
Bleeding on probing (BoP) which is also known as bleeding gums or gingival bleeding is a term used by dentists and dental hygienists when referring to bleeding that is induced by gentle manipulation of the tissue at the depth of the gingival sulcus, or interface between the gingiva and a tooth. BoP is a sign of periodontal inflammation and indicates some sort of destruction and erosion to the lining of the sulcus or the ulceration of sulcular epithelium. The blood comes from lamina propria after the ulceration of the lining.Gingival bleeding' URL assessed on November 21, 2009 BoP seems to be correlated with Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA). Causes There are many possible causes of gingival bleeding. The main cause of gingival bleeding is the formation and accumulation of plaque at the gum line due to improper brushing and flossing of teeth. The hardened form of plaque is calculus. An advanced form of gingivitis as a result of formation of plaque is periodontitis. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gum Depigmentation
Gum depigmentation, also known as gum bleaching, is a procedure used in cosmetic dentistry to lighten or remove black spots or patches on the gums consisting of melanin. Melanin in skin is very common in inhabitants in many parts of the world due to genetic factors. Melanin pigmentation in skin, oral mucosa, inner ear and other organs is a detoxification mechanism. Some toxic agents bind to melanin and will move out of the tissue with the ageing cells and are expelled to the tissue surfaces. Also in the gums and oral mucosa a visible pigmentation is most often caused by genetic factors, but also by tobacco smoking or in a few cases by long-term use of certain medications. If stopping smoking or change of medication do not solve the problem with a disfigurating melanin pigmentation, a surgical operation may be performed. The procedure itself can involve laser ablation techniques. Laser gum depigmentation Melanocytes are cells which reside in the basal layer of the gingival epithel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stippling (dentistry)
The gingiva often possess a textured surface that is referred to as being stippled (engraved points). Stippling only presents on the attached gingiva bound to underlying alveolar bone, not the freely moveable alveolar mucosa or free gingiva. Stippling used to be thought to indicate health, but it has since been shown that smooth gingiva is not an indication of disease, unless it is smooth ''due to a loss'' of previously existing stippling. Stippling is a consequence of the microscopic elevations and depressions of the surface of the gingival tissue due to the connective tissue projections within the tissue. The degree of keratinization and the prominence of stippling appear to be related. To be more specific, stippling occurs at sites of fusion of the epithelial ridges (also known as rete pegs – depression of epithelium) and correspond to the fusion of the valleys created by the connective tissue Connective tissue is one of the four primary types of animal tissue, a group o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Periodontal Probe
In dentistry, a periodontal probe is a dental instrument which is usually long, thin, and blunted at the end. Its main function is to evaluate the depth of the pockets surrounding a tooth in order to determine the periodontium's overall health. For accuracy and readability, the instrument's head has markings written on it. Use Proper use of the periodontal probe is necessary to maintain accuracy. The tip of the instrument is placed with light pressure of 10-20 gramsWilkins, 1999 into the gingival sulcus, which is an area of potential space between a tooth and the surrounding tissue. It is important to keep the periodontal probe parallel to the contours of the root of the tooth and to insert the probe down to the base of the pocket. This results in obscuring a section of the periodontal probe's tip. The first marking visible above the pocket indicates the measurement of the pocket depth. It has been found that the average, healthy pocket depth is around 3 mm with no b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mucogingival Junction
A mucogingival junction is an anatomical feature found on the intraoral mucosa. The mucosa of the cheeks and floor of the mouth are freely moveable and fragile, whereas the mucosa around the teeth and on the palate are firm and keratinized. Where the two tissue types meet is known as a mucogingival junction. There are three mucogingival junctions: on the facial of the maxilla and on both the facial and lingual of the mandible. The palatal gingiva of the maxilla is continuous with the tissue of the palate, which is bound down to the palatal bones. Because the palate is devoid of freely moveable alveolar mucosa, there is no mucogingival junction.Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, W.B. Saunders 2002, page 17. Clinical importance The clinical importance of the mucogingival junction is in measuring the width of attached gingiva. Attached gingiva is important because it is bound very tightly to the underlying alveolar bone and provides protection to the mucosa during functiona ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Interdental Papilla
The interdental papilla, also known as the interdental gingiva, is the part of the gums (gingiva) that exists coronal to the free gingival margin on the mesial and distal surfaces of the teeth. The interdental papillae fill in the area between the teeth apical to their contact areas to prevent food impaction; they assume a conical shape for the anterior teeth and a blunted shape buccolingually for the posterior teeth. A missing papilla is often visible as a small triangular gap between adjacent teeth. Dentists will sometimes refer to this gap as a ' black triangle'. It can sometimes be corrected with orthodontic treatment. The relationship of interdental bone to the interproximal contact point between adjacent teeth is a determining factor in whether the interdental papilla will be present. If a distance greater than 8 mm exists between the interdental bone and the interproximal contact, usually no papilla will be present. If the distance is 5 mm or less, then a papil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Periodontium
The periodontium () is the specialized tissues that both surround and support the teeth, maintaining them in the maxillary and mandibular bones. Periodontics is the dental specialty that relates specifically to the care and maintenance of these tissues. It provides the support necessary to maintain teeth in function. It consists of four principal components, namely: * Gingiva (the gums) * Periodontal ligament (PDL) * Cementum * Alveolar bone proper Each of these components is distinct in location, architecture, and biochemical properties, which adapt during the life of the structure. For example, as teeth respond to forces or migrate medially, bone resorbs on the pressure side and is added on the tension side. Cementum similarly adapts to wear on the occlusal surfaces of the teeth by apical deposition. The periodontal ligament in itself is an area of high turnover that allows the tooth not only to be suspended in the alveolar bone but also to respond to the forces. Thus, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dental Plaque
Dental plaque is a biofilm of microorganisms (mostly bacteria, but also fungi) that grows on surfaces within the mouth. It is a sticky colorless deposit at first, but when it forms Calculus (dental), tartar, it is often brown or pale yellow. It is commonly found between the teeth, on the front of teeth, behind teeth, on chewing surfaces, along the gums, gumline (supragingival), or below the gumline cervical margins (subgingival). Dental plaque is also known as microbial plaque, oral biofilm, dental biofilm, dental plaque biofilm or bacterial plaque biofilm. Bacterial plaque is one of the major causes for dental decay and gum disease. It has been observed that differences in the composition of dental plaque microbiota exist between men and women, particularly in the presence of periodontal disease, periodontitis. Progression and build-up of dental plaque can give rise to tooth decay – the localised destruction of the tissues of the tooth by acid produced from the bacterial degrad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
