dental disorders
Gingivitis
Introduction
Gingivitis is a type of Periodontitis characterized by inflammation of the gums (gingivae), causing bleeding with swelling, redness, exudate, a change of normal contours, and, occasionally, discomfort. Diagnosis is based on inspection. Treatment involves professional teeth cleaning and intensified home dental hygiene. Advanced cases may require antibiotics or surgery. Normally, the gingivae are firm, tightly adapted to the teeth, and contoured to form fine interdental points. Keratinized gingiva near the crowns is pink stippled tissue. This tissue should fill the entire space between the crowns. The gingiva farther from the crowns, called alveolar mucosa, is nonkeratinized, highly vascular, red, movable, and continuous with the buccal mucosa. A tongue depressor should express no blood or pus from normal gingiva. Inflammation, or gingivitis, the most common gingival problem, may evolve into Periodontitis . 