This document provides an overview of the microscopic anatomy of the gingiva. It describes the different layers of the gingival epithelium including the oral epithelium, sulcular epithelium, and junctional epithelium. It also discusses the cellular components and layers of the connective tissue below the epithelium. Key structures are described like desmosomes, hemidesmosomes, and tonofilaments that provide connections between epithelial cells and attachment to underlying tissues. The functions of the different epithelial layers and their roles in barrier function and wound healing are also summarized.

1. P R E S E N T E D B Y
D R S M S I V A R A M A N
P G IS T Y E A R
GINGIVA

2. Contents
 Introduction
 Development
 Macro anatomy of Gingiva
-Marginal Gingiva
-Gingival Sulcus
-Attached Gingiva
-Interdental Gingiva
 Microanatomy of Gingiva
-Gingival Epithelium
-General Aspects
-Outer / Oral Epithelium
-Sulcular Epithelium
-Junctional Epithelium
-Interface Between Epithelium And
Connective Tissue
-Gingival Connective Tissue
-Cellular Elements
-Gingival Fibers

3. Contents
 Blood Supply
 Lymphatic Drainage
 Gingival Innervations
 Correlation of Normal Clinical and Microscopic Features
-Color
-Size
-Contour
-Shape
-Consistency
-Surface Texture
-Position
 Effects of Aging on Gingival Epithelium and Connective Tissue
 Conclusion
 References

4. Definition
According to Carranza:
 The gingiva is the part of the oral mucosa that covers the
alveolar process of the jaws and surrounds the necks of the
teeth.
According to A A P 1992 :
• The fibrous investing tissue, covered by keratinized epithelium,
which immediately surrounds a tooth and is contiguous with its
periodontal ligament and with the mucosal tissues of the mouth.

5. Development
8-9 weeks (after ovulation)
Gingival or alveolar ridge
12-14 weeks (after ovulation)
Shallow gingival furrow
Gingival furrow in maxillary jaw Gumpads (later)
15 weeks
Epithelial differentiation
Appearance of keratohyaline granules
Epithelial invagination
Formation of labial and gingival furrow

6. Anatomical division
 Free or Marginal Gingiva or unattached gingiva
 Attached Gingiva
 Interdental Gingiva.

7. Free gingiva/Un-attached gingiva/Marginal gingiva
 The marginal or unattached
gingiva is the terminal edge
or border of the gingiva that
surrounds the teeth in collar
like fashion .
 50% cases- it is demarcated
from the adjacent attached
gingiva by a shallow linear
depression called the free
gingival groove.-Ainamo J
,Loe H :1966
 Width-1mm,

8. Gingival sulcus
A Shallow crevice or space around the tooth bounded by
surface of tooth on one side and the epithelium lining the free
margin of the gingiva on the other.
 V –shaped
 Depth :
Ideal conditions – zero(Gottleib B, Orban B 1933)
Clinically - 2 – 3 mm.
Histological depth -1.8 (0 to 6 mm) (Orban B, Kohler J: 1924)
Histological depth need not be equal to biological depth

9. Attached Gingiva
• Firm, resilient and tightly bound to
the underlying periosteum of
alveolar
bone by connective tissue fibers.
• Coronally: marginal gingiva
•Apically: palatally-palatal mucosa
facially-alveolar mucosa
• Mucogingival junction
• Stippling
• Significance
• Width of attached gingiva
stippling

10. Width of attached gingiva
 Distance b/w the MGJ & projection on
the external surface of the bottom of
gingival sulcus/ periodontal pocket.
Fascial aspect:
Greatest -incisor region :
3.5 to 4.5 mm in maxilla
3.3 to 3.9 mm in mandible
Least -first premolar area
1.9 mm in maxilla
1.8mm in mandible
Lingual aspect:
Wider-molar region
Narrow-Incisor region
 Increases:
By the age of 4yrs
supraerupted teeth(Ainamo A, Ainamo J)

11. Significance of attached gingiva
Gives support to the marginal gingiva
To protect the periodontium from injury caused by frictional forces
encountered during mastication
Barrier of passage for inflammation
Provides resistance to tensional forces(stresses)
Attached gingiva acts as a buffer between marginal gingiva and
alveolar mucosa

12. Continued.
 Lang & Loe,1972: suggested that 2 mm of keratinized
gingiva(corresponding to 1 mm attached gingiva in this
material) is adequate to maintain gingival health.
 Wennstorm, 1987: the lack of minimum amount of
attached Gingiva does not necessarily result in a soft tissue
recession. Proper plaque control prevents soft tissue
recession, even when it is out of adequate width.
 Mehta P et al,2010: width of attached gingiva is not
significant to maintain periodontal health in the presence of
adequate oral hygiene.

13. Measuring-Attached gingiva
HALL WB, 1982:
The width of attached gingiva is determined by subtracting the
sulcus or pocket depth from total width of gingiva
Total width of gingiva: From MGJ to crest of marginal gingiva
Methods to determine width of attached gingiva:
1.Anatomically.
2.Functionally
a)Tension test
b)Roll test
3.Histochemical staining.
4.Ultrasonic devices

14. Interdental Gingiva
Occupies the gingival embrasure, which is the interproximal space
beneath the area of tooth contact.
Shape: pyramidal or Col shape.
PYRAMIDAL SHAPE:
In this the papilla is located immediately beneath the contact point. It is
present in anterior teeth

15. Col shaped -IG
COL SHAPE
 It is valley like depression
that connects the facial
and lingual papilla and
conforms to the shape of
interproximal contact and
present in posterior teeth
 Its epithelium is non-
keratinized and same as
Junctional epithelium

16. Microscopic Anatomy
Histologically:
Gingiva is composed of :
 1. Gingival epithelium
 2. Epithelium-
connective tissue
interface
 3. Connective tissue

17. Gingival epithelium-General aspects
Continuous lining of stratified squamous epithelium.
Function:
Physical barrier to Infection
Participate actively in responding to infection in signaling
further host reactions in integrating innate and acquired
 immune responses.
 To protect deep structures.
 Allow a selective interchange with the oral environment.

18.  Microscopic Features
 gingiva is composed of the overlying stratified squamous epithelium and
 the underlying central core of connective tissue.
 the epithelium is predominantly cellular in nature,
 the connective tissue is less cellular and composed primarily of collagen
fibers and ground substance.

19. Microscopic Anatomy
The epithelium covering the free gingiva may be differentiated as
follows:
• Oral epithelium (OE),
• Oral Sulcular epithelium (OSE),
• Junctional epithelium (JE),

20. Histology
 The boundary between the
oral epithelium (OE) and
underlying connective tissue
(CT) has a wavy course. The
connective tissue portions
which project into the
epithelium are called
connective tissue papillae (CTP)
and are separated from each
other by epithelial ridges – so-
called Rete pegs (ER)
Oral & Sulcular epithelium-Rete
pegs (present)
Junctional epithelium -Absent

21. Cell layers
 The oral epithelium is a
keratinized, stratified,
squamous epithelium
which, on the basis of the
degree to which the
keratin-producing cells are
differentiated, can be
divided into the following
cell layers:
 1. Basal layer (stratum
basale or stratum
germinativum)
 2. Prickle cell layer
(stratum spinosum)
 3. Granular cell layer
(stratum granulosum)
 4. Keratinized cell layer
(stratum corneum).

22. Stratum basale
 The basal layer in made up of cells that synthesis DNA and undergo
mitosis, thus providing new cells. The basal cells and parabasal spinous
cells are referred to a stratum germinativum.
Basal cells
Basal cells are of 2 types
1.Serrated & heavily packed with tonofilaments
2. Non- serrated slow cycling stem cells.
 Specialized cells called hemidesmosomes are found on the basal
surface.
Hemidesmosomes Attach epithelium to connective tissue
 The lateral borders of adjacent basal cells are closely apposed and
connected by desmosomes

23. Stratum spinosum
 In the spinosum strata the spinous cells are irregular polyhedral
and larger than basal cells.
 The cells are joined by inter cellular bridges which are
desmosomes and tonofibrils are bundles of tonofilaments.
 Spinous layer is the most active in protein synthesis.
 Keratinosomes (Odland bodies):
Modified lysosomes
Contains-Acid phospatase

24. Stratum granulosum
 Stratum granulosum contains flatter and wider cells. These cells
are larger than the spinous cells.
 The layer is so named because of basophilic keratohyaline
granules that it contains.
 The nuclei shows signs of degeneration and pyknosis.
 Odland body or membrane forms in the upper spinous and
granular cell layers.

25. Stratum corneum
 Is made up of keratinized squamous, which are larger and
flatten than the granular cells.
 Closely packed, flattened cells that have lost nuclei and most
other organelles as they become keratinized.
 The cells are densely packed with tonofilaments.
 Clear, rounded bodies probably representing lipid droplets
appear within the cytoplasm of the cell.

26. Regulation
 Both epithelial proliferation and maturation are needed for
continuous cells renewal to maintain structural integrity.
 The control over these 2 processes is mediated by substances
produced by maturing epithelial cells – Chalones which act by
negative feedback mechanism

27. Key features of keratinisation
 Progressive flattening of the cell.
 Increased prevalence of tonofilaments.
 Intercellular junctions coupled to the production of
keratohyaline granules.
 Disappearance of the nucleus

28. Types of keratinization
 Three types of surface keratinization can occur in the gingival
epithelium:
 Orthokeratinization
 Parakeratinization
 Nonkeratinization

29. Ultra structure-Gingival epithelium
 Each epithelial type have characteristic pattern of cytokeratins.
 Keratin proteins are composed of different polypeptide subunits
 characterized by their isoelectric points and molecular weights.
 Basal cells begin synthesis of low mol. Wt. keratins. Ex.: K19
(40kD).
 High mol. Wt. keratins are expressed when they reach superficial
layers. Ex.: K1 (68kD).

30. Other proteins synthesized during maturation process:
 Keratolinin
 Involucrin
 Filaggrin
 Corneocyte:
Most differentiated epithelial cell
Composed bundles of keratin tonofilaments + amorphous
matrix of filaggrin & surrounded by a resistant envelope (
keratolinin and involucrin).

31. Epithelial cell connections
Together with intercellular protein-carbohydrate complexes,
cohesion between cells is provided by numerous structures
called “Desmosomes”.
Desmosomes:
 Located between the cytoplasm processes of adjacent cells.
 Two hemidesmosomes facing each other.
 Large number of desmosomes gives a solid cohesion between
cells.

32. Desmosome
A desmosome comprises the
following structural components:
1. The outer leaflets (OL) of the cell
membrane of two adjoining cells,
2. The thick inner leaflets (IL) of the
cell membranes
3. The attachment plaques (AP),
which represent granular and
fibrillar material in the cytoplasm.

33. TONOFILAMENTS
Cytoskeleton of keratin
proteins which radiate in
brush like fashion from the
attachment plaques into
cytoplasm of the cells.

34. TIGHT JUNCTIONS (ZONAE OCCLUDENS)
Rarely observed forms of epithelial
cell connections where the
membranes of the adjoining cells
are believed to be fused

35.  KERATINOCYTES
 NONKERATINOCYTES/CLEAR CELLS:
1.Langerhans cells
2.Merkel cells
3.Melanocytes
4.Inflammatory cells

36. Keratinocytes
 90% - total gingival cell
population.
 Origination-ectodermal germ
layer.
 Cell organelles: Nucleus, cytosol,
ribosome's, Golgi apparatus etc
Melanosomes: Pigment bearing
granules
Proliferation and
differentiation - keratinocytes
Barrier action of the epithelium.

37. Non-Keratinocytes (clear cells)
The various nonkeratinocytes are :
• Langerhans cells,
• Merkel cells,
• Melanocytes,
• Inflammatory cells

38. TYPES OF GINGIVAL EPITHELIUM
1. Oral or outer epithelium
2. Sulcular epithelium
3. Junctional epithelium

39. Oral epithelium
• Covers the crest and outer surface of
the marginal gingiva and the surface
of the attached gingiva.
• 0.2 to 0.3 mm in thickness.
• Keratinized or parakeratinised, or it
may present combinations of these
conditions.
• The oral epithelium is composed of
four layers.

40. Sulcular epithelium
• Lines the gingival sulcus.
• Thin, nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium
• No Rete pegs.
• Extends from the coronal limit
of the Junctional epithelium to
the crest of the gingival
margin.
• Hydropic degeneration of cells.
• Contains K4 and K13, K19.
• Don’t have merkel cells.

41. Sulcular epithelium has the potential to keratinize:
• If it is reflected and exposed to the oral cavity.
• If the bacterial flora of the sulcus is totally eliminated.
Outer epithelium loses its keratinization:
• When it is placed in contact with the tooth. These findings
suggest that the local irritation of the sulcus prevents sulcular
keratinization.
Sulcular epithelium is extremely important because it act as
a semi permeable membrane through which injurious
bacterial products pass into gingival fluid.
Less permeable
than JE.

42. Junctional epithelium
• Collarlike band of stratified squamous
non-keratinizing epithelium.
• 3 to 4 layers thick in early life, but the
number increases with age to 10 or even
20 layers.
• Tapers from its coronal end to apical
termination, located at the
cementoenamel junction in healthy
tissue.
• Length: 0.25 to 1.35 mm.

43. • These cells can be grouped in two strata:
The basal layer:
That faces the
connective tissue (External Basal
Lamina)
The suprabasal layer:
That extends to
the tooth surface.– DAT CELLS (Internal
basal lamina)
zones of Junctional epithelium:
1. Apical – germination
2. Middle – adhesion
3. Coronal- permeable.

44.  The attachment of the Junctional epithelium to the tooth is reinforced by the
gingival fibers, which brace the marginal gingiva against the tooth surface.
 For this reason, the Junctional epithelium and the gingival fibers are
considered together as a functional unit.

45. Concepts on epithelial attachment
1. Gottlieb: gingiva is organically united to surface of enamel. He
termed it as epithelial attachment. (drawback- did not explain
how exactly it attaches.)
2. Waerhaug : in 1952 presented a concept of epithelial cuff, he
concluded that gingival tissues are closely adapted but not organically united.
3. Stern: in 1962 showed the attachment to tooth is through hemidesmosomes,
supported by schroeder and listgarten.

46. Junctional epithelium-Functions
Functions:
 Provides attachment to the tooth.
 Forms an epithelial barrier against the plaque bacteria.
 Rapid cell division and funneling of cells towards the sulcus:
 Hinder bacterial colonization and
 Repair of damaged tissue occurs rapidly.
Allow GCF:
From connective tissue into crevice – Gingival fluid exudates, PMNs,etc.
From crevice to connective tissue – Foreign material such as carbon particles,
 Produces active antimicrobial substances like defensins, lysosomal enzymes,
calprotectin and cathelicidin.
 Epithelial cells activated by microbial substances secrete chemokines, e.g. IL-
1, IL-6, IL8 and TNF that attract and activate professional defense cells such as
lymphocytes and PMNs.

47. Gingival crevicular Fluid
• Represented as either as transudate or an exudate.
• Diagnostic or prognostic biomarker of the biologic state of the
periodontium in health and disease.
• GCF flow increases during inflammation and resembles that of
inflammatory exudates.
• Gingival fluid diffuses through the basement membranes.

48. GCF-Functions
 Cleanse material from the sulcus.
 Contain plasma proteins that may improve adhesion of
epithelium to the tooth
 Possess antimicrobial properties
 Expert antibody activity to defend the gingiva.

49. Epithelium-CT interface
Ultrastructurally the interface is
composed of 4 elements:
 Basal cell plasma membrane.
 Lamina lucida: 25 to 45 nm
wide.
 Lamina densa: 40 to 60 nm
thickness.
 Reticular layer.
From the lamina densa so called
anchoring fibrils project in a
fan shaped fashion into the
connective tissue.

51. Connective tissue
 The predominant tissue component of gingiva – Lamina
Propria.
Components:
Collagen fibers (60%) ,
Fibroblasts (5%) ,
Vessels, Nerves & Matrix (35%)
Layers of connective tissue:
1. Papillary Layer
2. Reticular Layer

52. GROUND SUBSTANCE
• Fills space between fibers and cells
• Amorphous
• High water content
Composed of:
Proteoglycans:
Hyaluronic acid ,
Chondroitin sulphate
Glycoproteins:
(PAS positive) ,
Fibronectin &Laminin

53. CELLS
The different types of cell present in the connective tissue are:
 Fibroblasts
 Mast cells
 Fixed Macrophages & Histiocytes
 Inflammatory cells (Plasma cells, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils)
 Adipose cells
 Eosinophils

54. Fibroblasts:
 Preponderant cellular element in the gingival connective tissue.
 Mesenchymal origin.
 Play a major role in the development, maintenance, and repair
of gingival connective tissue.
Synthesize :
 collagen
 elastic fibers
 glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans.
 collagen degradation through phagocytosis and the secretion of
Collagenases.

55. The connective tissue fibers are produced by the
fibroblasts and can be divided into:
• Collagen fibers
• Reticulin fibers
• Elastic fibers.(Elaunin,Oxytalan,Elastin)
criteria Reticulin
fibres
Oxytalan
fibres
Elastic
fibres
Location Loose CT Association
with blood
vessels
Less-gingiva
More-PDL

56. Collagen type I:
 forms the bulk of the lamina propria
 provides the tensile strength to the gingival tissue.
Type IV collagen:
 branches between the collagen type I bundles & continuous with
fibers of the basement membrane and the blood vessel walls.
 Densely packed collagen bundles that are anchored into the
acellular extrinsic fiber cementum just below the terminal point
of the Junctional epithelium form the connective tissue
attachment.

57. Gingival Fibres-Functions
The connective tissue of the marginal gingiva is densely
collagenous, and it contains a prominent system of collagen fiberbundles called
the gingival fibers.
These fibers consist of type I collagen.
Functions:
 To brace the marginal gingiva firmly against the tooth
 To provide the rigidity necessary to withstand the forces of
mastication without being deflected away from the tooth
surface
 To unite the free marginal gingiva with the cementum of the
root and the adjacent attached gingiva

58. Gingival fibres-Types
The gingival fibers are
arranged in three groups:
1. Dento gingival
2. Circular
3. Transseptal
According Page et.al:
1.Semicircular fibers:
2.Transgingival fibers
Lindhe:
1.Dentoperiosteal fibers

59. • Orginates from cementum and spreads
laterally in to lamina propria
Dento-gingival
• Orginates from periosteum and spreads into
lamina propria
Alveolo-gingival
• Originates from cementum near CEJ into
periosteum of alveolar crest
Dento-periosteal
• Originates from within the free marginal and
attached gingiva coronal to alveolar crest and
encircles each tooth.
Circular
• Originates from interproximal cementum coronal to
crest and courses mesially and distally in the
interdental area into cementum of adjacent teeth
Transseptal

60. • Originates from the periosteum of the lateral
aspect of alveolar process and spreads into
attached gingiva.
Periosteogingival
• Originates from within interdental gingiva and
follows on orofacial course
Inter-papillary
• Originates within the attached gingiva
interwing along dental arch between and
around teeth
Transgingival
• Originates from cementum on distal surface of tooth
spreading buccally and lingually around adjacent tooth
and inserting on mesial cementum of next tooth
Intercircular
• Originates from attached gingiva immediately subjacent to
basement membrane and courses mesiodistallyInter-gingival
• Originates from cementum of the mesial surface of tooth
and courses distally and inserts on the cementum of distal
surface of same tooth
Semicircular

61. Colour
Generally coral pink.
The Color is a result of:
Vascular supply
Thickness
Degree of keratinization of epithelium,
Presence of pigment containing cells.
Color to be correlated with cutaneous pigmentation

62. Melanin
• Melanin (non hemoglobin derived brown pigment)
• Prominent in blacks, diminished in albinos
• Distribution of Oral Pigmentations in blacks:
Gingiva -60% Hard Palate -61% Mucous membrane -22% Tongue -
15%
• As a diffuse , deep purplish discoloration or as irregularly shaped
brown and light brown patches and may appear as early as 3
hours after birth.

63. Size
 Sum total of the bulk of cellular and intercellular
elements and their vascular supply.
 Alteration in size is a common feature of gingival
disease

64. Contour
 Marginal gingiva envelops the teeth in collar like
fashion and follows a scalloped outline on the facial
and lingual surfaces.
 straight line - along teeth with relatively flat surfaces.
 accentuated - pronounced mesiodistal convexity (e.g.,
maxillary canines) or teeth in labial version horizontal
and thickened - in lingual version.

65. Shape
The shape of the Interdental gingiva is governed by the contour of the
proximal tooth surfaces and the location and shape of the gingival
embrasures.
Anterior-Interdental papillae-pyramidal
Posterior-flattened -buccolingually
Shape depends on:
 Presence/absence of contact
 Distance btw contact point and osseous crest
 Course of CEJ
 Width of the approximate tooth surfaces
 Presence/absence of recession.

66. Consistency
 Firm and resilient
 Collagenous nature of the lamina
propria and its contiguity with the
mucoperiosteum determine the
firmness of the attached gingiva.
 The gingival fibers contribute to
the firmness of the gingival
margin.
 If the gingiva is suppressed, the
proteoglycans become deformed
and recoil when the pressure is
eliminated. Thus, the
macromolecules are important for
the resilience of the gingiva.

67. Surface texture
Orange peel – stippled
Stippling –produced by alternate round protuberance and depressions in the
gingival surface.
A form of adaptive specialization or reinforcement for function –feature of
healthy gingiva
Stippling is best viewed by drying Gingiva.
Attached Gingiva is stippled,
Central portion of Interdental papilla is usually stippled.
Less prominent or absent-lingual surfaces.

68. Position
The level at which the gingival margin is attached to the tooth.
Continuous eruption, even after meeting their functional antagonists
occurs through out life .
Active Eruption :Movement of teeth in the direction of occlusal plane
Passive Eruption: Exposure of the tooth by apical migration of Gingiva
Gottlieb : active and passive eruption go hand in hand.
 Exposure of the tooth via the apical migration of the gingiva is called gingival
recession or atrophy.

69. Gingiva –blood/lymph/nerve supply

70. Repair/Healing of gingiva
 Turnover rate is 10-12 days.
 It is one of the best healing tissues in the body with
little or no scarring.
 However the reparative capacity is lesser than that of
periodontal ligament and epithelial tissue.

71. Age changes
Stippling usually disappears with age.
Width of the attached gingiva increases with age.
a. Gingival epithelium:
 Thinning and decreased keratinization
 Rete pegs flatten
 Migration of Junctional epithelium apically.
 Reduced oxygen consumption.
b. Gingival connective tissue:
 Increased rate of conversion of soluble to insoluble collagen
 Increased mechanical strength of collagen
 Increased denaturing temperature of collagen
 Decreased rate of synthesis of collagen
 Greater collagen content.

72. Biological width
 The biological width is
defined as the dimension of
the soft tissue, which is
attached to the portion of
the tooth coronal to the
crest of the alveolar bone.
Gargiulo et al.,:
They reported the following
mean dimensions:
It is the sum of the epithelial
and connective tissue
measurements

73. Continued.
Biologic Width Evaluation:
 Clinical (discomfort when the restoration margin levels are being
assessed with a periodontal probe)
 Radiographs (for interproximal violation but mesiofacial and distofacial
line angle not seen properly)
 Bone sounding (probing under anesthesia) If this distance is less than 2
mm or more at one or more locations, a diagnosis of biologic width
violation can be confirmed
Biologic width violation:
• Unpredictable bone loss
• Gingival recession
• Persistence of gingivitis

74. References
 Clinical Periodontology By Carranza, 12th Edition
 Clinical Periodontology And Implant Dentistry By Jan Lindhe,
4th Edition.
 Biology Of Periodontal Connective Tissue-bartold And Sampath
Narayana
 Oral Histology, Development, Structure And Function – A.R.
Tencate, 5th Edition
 PERIODONTICS REVISITED Shalu Bathla, 1st Edition
 Babita Pawar, Pratishtha Mishra, Parmeet Banga, and P . P .
Marawar.Gingival zenith and its role in redefining esthetics: A
clinical study. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2011 Apr-Jun; 15(2): 135–
138.

75. Continued.
 Niklaus P . Lang, and Harald Löe. The Relationship Between the
Width of Keratinized Gingiva and Gingival Health. J Periodontol.
1972 Oct;43(10):623-7.
 Gerald M. Bowers. A Study of the Width of Attached Gingiva.
Journal of Periodontology,May 1963, Vol. 34, No. 3, Pages 201-
209
 Wennström JL. Lack of association between width of attached
gingiva and development of soft tissue recession. A 5-year
longitudinal study. J Clin Periodontol. 1987 Mar;14(3):181-4
 Mehta P, Lim LP. The width of the attached gingiva--much ado
about nothing? J Dent. 2010 Jul;38(7):517-25.
 Molecular and Cell Biology of the Gingiva, Periodontology 2000;
Vol 24; 2000; 28-55.

76. THANK YOU

83. Development
 The gingival tissues develop as a site-specific portion of the oral mucous membrane prior to the
eruption of deciduous teeth.
 Unlike the 3 other tissues of the periodontium (i.e.) root cementum, alveolar bone proper and
the periodontal ligament, the gingiva does not derive from the mesenchymal dental follicle
proper. It is a derivative of the stomodeal ectoderm and mesoderm.
 The gingival or alveolar ridge 1st appears about 8-9 weeks after ovulation as a result of formation
of labial and gingival furrow
 About 12-14 weeks after ovulation a shallow gingival furrow is formed via an epithelial
invagination. The development of the gingival furrow, particularly in the maxillary jaw is
associated with the formation of gum pads later in fetal life.
 About 15 weeks after ovulation epithelial differentiation commences when there is the 1st
appearance of keratohyaline granules in the superficial cell layers.
 The connective tissue component of the gingiva derives from the perifollicular mesencyme and
develops between the tooth germ and epithelium lining the stomodeum at the gingival ridge.

84. Structural and Metabolic characteristic of the gingival
epithelium.
 Keratins – K1, K2 and K10, K11 which are specific to epidermal differentiation
are expressed which high intensity in orthokeratinized areas and with less
intensity in parakeratinised areas.
 Parakeratinised areas express K-19 which is usually absent from
orthokeratinized normal epithelial.