Gengiva

Gengiva, known in English as the gingiva, is the part of the oral mucosa that covers the alveolar processes around the teeth. It comprises the free (marginal) gingiva, the attached gingiva, and the interdental papilla, forming a seal around teeth and contributing to protection, aesthetics, and function.

Anatomically, the gingival margin defines the boundary between the tooth and the oral cavity, and a shallow gingival sulcus sits between the tooth and the gingiva in health. The attached gingiva is firmly bound to underlying bone, while the free gingiva is not attached to the underlying tissue. The interdental papilla fills the space between adjacent teeth. The gingival epithelium is stratified squamous, typically keratinized in the attached gingiva, with the lamina propria containing dense collagen fibers, including dentogingival, dentoperiosteal, and circular fiber groups. The junctional epithelium attaches the gingiva to the tooth at the cementoenamel junction, helping form the seal around the tooth.

The gingiva serves to protect the underlying periodontium from mechanical and microbial trauma, contributes to a biologic seal around teeth, and plays a role in aesthetics and speech.

Clinical relevance includes gingivitis, an inflammation usually caused by plaque, which can progress to periodontitis with loss of supporting tissue. Other conditions involve gingival recession, hyperplasia, and pigmentation. Bleeding on probing is a common sign. Management focuses on improved oral hygiene, professional cleaning (scaling and root planing), and controlling risk factors such as smoking and systemic conditions. Gingival health varies with age, hormonal changes, and pigmentation, but maintains its basic protective role in oral health.