dental anatomy Dental anatomy is a field of anatomy dedicated to the study of Tooth (human), human tooth structures. The development, appearance, and classification of teeth fall within its purview. (The function of teeth as they contact one another falls elsew ...

, the free gingival margin is the interface between the

sulcular epithelium In dental anatomy, the sulcular epithelium is that epithelium Epithelium or epithelial tissue is a thin, continuous, protective layer of cells with little extracellular matrix. An example is the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin ...

and the

epithelium Epithelium or epithelial tissue is a thin, continuous, protective layer of cells with little extracellular matrix. An example is the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Epithelial ( mesothelial) tissues line the outer surfaces of man ...

of the

oral cavity A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also the first part of the alime ...

. This interface exists at the most coronal point of the

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 ...

, 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 Alveolus (; pl. alveoli, adj. alveolar) is a general anatomical term for a concave cavity or pit. Uses in anatomy and zoology * Pulmonary alveolus, an air sac in the lungs ** Alveolar cell or pneumocyte ** Alveolar duct ** Alveolar macrophage * M ...

, known as the free gingiva, is not bound down to the

periosteum The periosteum is a membrane that covers the outer surface of all bones, except at the articular surfaces (i.e. the parts within a joint space) of long bones. (At the joints of long bones the bone's outer surface is lined with "articular cartila ...

that envelops the bone, it is moveable. However, due to the presence of

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, a ...

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 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. ...

or the bristles of a

toothbrush A toothbrush is a special type of brush used to clean the Human tooth, teeth, gingiva, gums, and tongue. It consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles, atop of which toothpaste can be applied, mounted on a handle (grip), handle which facil ...

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 performed by mechanical, chemical, or electrical means in order to perform certain

dental surgery Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions o ...

procedures. It is usually referred to as

gingival recession Gingival recession, also known as gum recession and receding gums, is the exposure in the roots of the teeth caused by a loss of gum tissue or retraction of the gingival margin from the crown of the teeth.pocket formation A pocket is a bag- or envelope-like receptacle either fastened to or inserted in an article of clothing to hold small items. Pockets are also attached to luggage, backpacks, and similar items. In older usage, a pocket was a separate small bag or ...

or displacement of the

marginal gingivae 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 m ...

away from the tooth by mechanical, chemical, or surgical means. It may expose the roots of the teeth, similarly to

gingival recession Gingival recession, also known as gum recession and receding gums, is the exposure in the roots of the teeth caused by a loss of gum tissue or retraction of the gingival margin from the crown of the teeth.haemostasis In biology, hemostasis or haemostasis is a process to prevent and stop bleeding, meaning to keep blood within a damaged blood vessel (the opposite of hemostasis is hemorrhage). It is the first stage of wound healing. Hemostasis involves three maj ...

at the sulcus.

References

Gingiva {{dentistry-stub

Gingival retraction or recession

See also

References