title: [Sulcus and coronal junctional epithelium in mild gingivitis. A retrospective study].
abstract: Is the presence of mild gingivitis in humans synonymous with early pocket formation? In order to answer this question, buccal gingival biopsies from 5 children, 9 to 12 years of age, were studied by light and electron microscopy. These biopsies included the entire topographically intact gingival sulcus and coronal junctional epithelium. The results indicated that in the presence of supragingival plaque and mild gingival inflammation, the coronal junctional epithelium acquired a loose structure. However, this structural change did not affect the ability of the junctional epithelium to maintain its attachment to the tooth. The loose epithelial structure results in part from the apico-coronal migration of neutrophilic granulocytes through the junctional epithelium and the appearance throughout the junctional epithelium of irregular, cavernous enlargements of the intercellular spaces that are filled with tissue fluid. The degree to which the epithelial structure is altered varies over short stretches of the dentogingival junction. The findings are interpreted in the light of current knowledge in pathophysiology. The above question appears to have a negative answer.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rossinsky
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Listgarten
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
vernacular_title: Sulkus und koronales Saumepithel bei leichter Gingivitis. Eine retrospektive.