Tooth-Gum Connection: Junctional Epithelium

Tooth-Gum Connection: Junctional Epithelium

Write briefly the development of three stages of detinogingival junction.
Answer:

Stages of dentinogingival junction:

1. First stage physiologic:

• Position of the bottom of the gingival sulcus. In the enamel-covered crown.
• Position of the apical end of the attachment epithelium at tire cementoenamel junction.
• The clinical crown is smaller than the anatomic crown.

Age:

• Before 1 year of shedding of primary teeth.
• In permanent teeth, at the age of 20 – 30 years.

2. Second stage – physiologic:

• The bottom of the gingival sulcus is on the enamel.
• The apical end of the attachment epithelium is on the cementum.
• Fiber bundles present at the cervical parts of the cementum undergo dissolution.
• This part later gets covered by the epithelium.
• The apical shift of the gingival and transseptal fibers occurs.
• Fibers are destroyed by the enzymes secreted by the epithelial cells, by plaque or by immunologic reactions.
• The clinical crown is smaller than the anatomic crown.
• Age: 40 years or later.

3. Third stage – pathologic:

• The bottom of the gingival sulcus is at the cementoenamel junction.
• Epithelium attachment is entirely on the cementum.
• The tooth is exposed.
• The epithelium shifts along the tooth surface.
• The clinical crown is equal to the anatomic crown.

4. Fourth stage – pathologic:

• It represents a gingival recession.
• The entire attachment is on the cementum.
• May occur even in the absence of periodontitis.
• The clinical crown is longer than the atomic crown.

Age:

• Varies
• In some cases, occurs at the age of 20’s while absent even at the age of 50 or more.