DENTISTRY
Figure 3A. A cat's right maxilla (arrows = attached gingiva).
of the oral surface of the attached gingiva and
gingival papillae.
• The sulcular epithelium is the non-keratinized
extension of the oral epithelium into the gingival
sulcus. The gingival sulcus is a shallow space
between the marginal gingiva and the tooth. The
sulcus depth is generally under 1 mm but varies
depending on the specific tooth and the size of the
cat or dog (Figure 4).
• The junctional epithelium attaches to enamel of
the most apical portion of the crown by means of
hemidesmosomes and lies at the floor of the sulcus,
immediately coronal to or at the cementoenamel
junction. The junctional epithelium and gingival
connective tissue separate the periodontal ligament
from the oral environment. The floor of the gingival
sulcus is located on the most coronal junctional
epithelial cells.
Gingival abnormalities
Gingivitis
Figure 3B. A dog's right maxilla (arrows = attached gingiva).
of mastication. The width of the attached gingiva varies in
different areas of the mouth and is widest at the maxillary
canines (Figures 3A and 3B).
The attached gingiva meets with the loose alveolar
mucosa at the mucogingival junction, also referred as the
mucogingival line. The mucogingival junction remains
stationary throughout life, although the gingiva around it
may change in height because of attachment loss.
Gingivitis is the beginning stage of periodontal disease
in which inflammation is confined to the gingival soft
tissues only. This inflammation does not clinically
extend into the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament or
cementum. Periodontitis is the more established form
of periodontal disease in which there is actual loss of
the tooth-supporting tissues involving the periodontal
ligament, alveolar bone and cementum.
Gingivitis can be present without periodontitis.
Periodontal disease can exist without gingivitis in an
area of previous periodontitis that has been treated and
controlled, relieving inflammation but not attachment
loss (Figures 5A and 5B).
Gingival epithelium is divided into three zones:
• The oral epithelium, also called the outer gingival
epithelium, is a keratinized or para-keratinized covering
Figure 4. Compressed air from an air/water syringe exposing the normal
1-mm sulcus.
Figure 5A. Gingivitis affecting the right maxillary canine in a dog.
Issue 02 | APRIL 2017 | 29