Periodontal Examination Part 2: Periodontal Structures Flashcards
What are the components of the healthy periodontium from tooth to maxilla/mandible?
Interdental gingiva / Free gingiva
Attached gingiva
Mucogingival junction
Alveolar mucosa
What is the free gingiva?
The unattached portion of the gingiva that surrounds the tooth
Surrounds the neck of the tooth in a turtleneck manner
What is the gingival sulcus? What is the clinical significance of this sulcus?
The space between the free gingiva and the tooth surface
A periodontal probe is inserted here to assess its health.
What is the interdental gingiva? What are the components of the interdental gingiva?
Portion of the gingiva that fills the area between 2 adjacent teeth apical to the contact area
Facial papilla and lingual papilla
What structures are damaged in periodontitis?
The gingival connective tissue, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone.
What are the features assessed clinically to diagnose periodontitis?
Gingival margin
Probing pocket depth
Bleeding on probing
Attachment level
Furcations
Mobility
Width of attached gingiva
What changes the level of the gingival margin?
It can change over time in response to trauma, medications or disease.
What are the possible marginal levels?
Margin at CEJ
Margin in health covers 1, 2, 3 mm
Margin significantly covering the CEJ
Margin significantly apical to the CEJ
Where is the natural position of the gingival margin?
slightly above the CEJ (1, 2, or 3 mm)
When does the gingival margin significantly cover the CEJ?
Commonly seen in gingivitis
When is the gingival margin found to be apical to the CEJ?
In recession caused by periodontitis
How is the gingival margin level determined?
Measure the distance from the gingival margin to the CEJ. If it is below, how far below. If it is above, how far above.
The measurement is recorded after.
What does it mean if the gingiva has receded?
Then the alveolar bone in that area has also been lost.
What is the technique to measuring the level of the gingival margin?
- Position the tip of the probe at a 45 degree angle to the tooth
- Slowly move the probe tip along the tooth until you detect the CEJ
- Record the distance between the gingival margin and the CEJ
How is the gingival margin level recorded?
In the patient chart or computerized record. Level of gingival margin should be accurately drawn on the periodontal chart.
0 = margin at the CEJ
Absolute health = negative probing depth
A negative number = margin significantly covers the CEJ
A positive number = gingival recession
What does the periodontium in disease form?
A periodontal pocket: Caused by deepening of gingival sulcus by disease.
How deep is a periodontal pocket that is caused by disease?
A healthy sulcus is 1 to 3 mm deep anything more than that is a periodontal pocket caused by disease.
The probe tip touches the tooth near the CEJ.
Can radiographs tell the extent of bone loss? Is it important to know this?
If there is bone loss, you need to know how much bone is lost.
Radiographs do not provide accurate information regarding extent of bone loss
Can perio probing tell us the extent of bone loss?
No, A probing depth reading ALONE is NOT enough information to tell you if a tooth has normal bone support or bone loss!