Review article
The significance of the width of keratinized gingiva for the periodontal health
Miljenko Bačić
; Zavod za parod ontologiju, Stomatološki fakultet, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The author presents the results from recent studies of the influence of
the width of keratinized gingiva on periodontal tissue health. Many clinical procedures have been developed to increase the narrow area of keratinized gingiva for the purpose of obtaining on »adequate« zone of marginal and attached gingiva to help maintain gingival health. Modern scientific studies indicate, however, that it is possible to maintain gingival health even in areas with minimal keratinized if oral hygiene is meticulous. The narrow zone of keratinized gingiva is not subject of more plaque accumulattion compared with areas with normal zone of keratinized gingiva. Clinical symptoms of inflammatioin are equally present regardless of the width of keratinized gingiva. It was histologically shown that when plaque is present, the dento-gingival junction in the narrow zone of attached gingiva has the same ability as the wide zone of attached gingiva for an inflammatory response to the metabolic product of plaque. Based on present clinical and experimental results, the width of keratinized gingiva does not specifically help maintain gingiva health, and comprehensive mucogingival procedures are often neither clinically nor scientifically justified.
Keywords
keratinized gingiva; peniodontal tissue
Hrčak ID:
105710
URI
Publication date:
15.9.1982.
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