This document discusses the anatomy of the gingiva. It describes the macroanatomy, including the marginal, attached, and interdental gingiva. It then covers the microanatomy, focusing on the epithelial layers like the sulcular and junctional epithelium and the connective tissue below. Throughout, it correlates the microscopic features to normal clinical presentations of things like color, shape, and consistency.

1. GINGIVA

2. • Introduction
• Macroanatomy 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. • Blood Supply
• Lymphatic Drainage
• Gingival Innervation
• 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. INTRODUCTION
The gingiva covers the alveolar process, and it is the
only one of the periodontal tissues that under
healthy conditions is directly visible upon inspection.

5. Glickman :
“Gingiva is the part of the oral mucosa that
covers the alveolar processes of the jaws and
surrounds the necks of the teeth”.
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.

6. Oral Mucosa consists of :
Masticatory Mucosa - Gingiva
- covering of Hard palate.
Specialized Mucosa - Dorsum of Tongue.
OMM lining remainder of oral cavity.
Structurally :
Keratinized – - masticatory mucosa
- vermilion border of the lip.
Non keratinized - lining or reflecting mucosa,
- specialized mucosa.

7. MACROANATOMY OF GINGIVA
Anatomically
 Free or Marginal
Gingiva.
 Attached Gingiva.
 Interdental Gingiva.
Functionally
 Part facing oral
cavity.
 Part facing the
tooth.

8. Free or Unattached or Marginal Gingiva :
•Terminal edge or border of gingiva
surrounding the teeth like a collar.
•Usually 1 mm wide.
•Demarcated from attached gingiva by a
shallow depression – free gingival groove-
50 % .

9. Gingival Sulcus
• V –shaped.
• Depth of Gingival Sulcus :
Ideal conditions - zero.
Clinically - 2 – 3 mm.
Histologic -1.8 mm with variations from
0 to 6 mm.
• 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.

10. Attached Gingiva
• Continuous with marginal gingiva & is firm,
resilient & tightly bound to the underlying
periosteum of the alveolar bone.
• The facial aspect of the attached gingiva
extends to the relatively loose & movable
alveolar mucosa from which it is demarcated
by the MGJ.

11. Width of AG
• distance b/w the MGJ & projection on the external
surface of the bottom of gingival sulcus/ periodontal
pocket.
• Greatest in incisor region :
3.5 to 4.5 mm in maxilla
3.3 to 3.9 mm in mandible
• 1.9 mm in maxilla
1.8mm in mandible
Least in the first premolar area :

12. • MGJ remains stationary throughout
adult life.
• On lingual aspect, AG terminates at
the junction with the lingual
alveolar mucosa, which is
continuous with the mucous
membrane lining the floor of mouth.
• On palatal surface, it blends
imperceptibly with the equally firm,
resilient palatal mucosa.

13. Significance of attached gingiva for the maintenance of
periodontal health :
• To protect the periodontium from injury caused by
frictional forces encountered during mastication
• To dissipate the pull on the gingival margin created by
the muscles of the adjacent alveolar mucosa.

14. Interdental Gingiva :
• occupies the gingival embrasure,
which is the interproximal space
beneath the area of tooth contact.
• can have a 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 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 keratinised and same as junctional
epithelium