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Gingival Sulcus

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Gingival sulcus

The gingival sulcus is located between the tooth and the free gingival margin and is the crevice that surrounds the tooth.

 
     

 

The sulcus lining epithelium renews itself rapidly every 4-6 days - compared to 6-12 days for oral epithelium. The sulcus is bathed in crevicular fluid, which contains many of the elements of immunity – antibodies, neutrophils, lymphocytes etc.

The normal depth of the sulcus is 0.5mm to 1mm in cats and 1-3mm in dogs. As a rule 1mm for cats and 1-2mm in dogs can be considered normal. Sulcus depth of more than 4mm in the dog means that the tooth is in danger!

During active disease and attachment loss it is common for the sulcus to deepen. As the junctional epithelium becomes inflamed and oedematous it separates from the root surface. The tissues become infiltrated with the cells normally found in this response – both primary and secondary. The junctional epithelium allows for the migration of polymorphonuclear granulocytes and fluids.

 

 

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