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A long junctional epithelium ‐ A locus minoris resistentiae in plaque infection?
Author(s) -
Magnusson Ingvae,
Runstad Lilian,
Nyman Sture,
Lindhe Jan
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1983.tb01282.x
Subject(s) - junctional epithelium , dentistry , connective tissue , medicine , gingival and periodontal pocket , epithelium , periodontology , dentition , anterior teeth , periodontitis , lesion , periodontium , pathology
Abstract The present experiment was undertaken to examine whether a gingival unit with a long junctional epithelium provides a. less efficient seal against plaque infection than a unit with a junctional epithelium of normal length. Periodontal tissue breakdown was produced around 8 teeth (test teeth) in each of 4 monkeys by placing elastic ligatures around the neck of the teeth. When the periodontal pockets at the approximal tooth surfaces were 4–5 mm deep and angular bony defects had been produced, the ligatures were removed. The periodontal tissues of the test teeth were subjected to flap surgery. The exposed root surfaces were scaled and planed but no osseous surgery was carried out. Following surgery, plaque control comprising all teeth of the dentition was instituted and maintained for 4 months. Healing following this type of surgical treatment involved the establishment of a long junctional epithelium. During the final 6 months of experimentation, oral hygiene measures were abandoned and plaque was allowed to accumulate. In each animal, 4 test teeth and 3 normal control teeth were selected to study gingival inflammation resulting from undisturbed plaque accumulation. In order to enhance subgingival plaque formation, in each animal cotton floss ligatures were placed in the entrance of the gingival sulci of the remaining 4 test teeth and in 3 controls. The animals were sacrificed 10 months after surgery. The jaws were removed and histological sections of the teeth including surrounding periodontal tissues were produced. The histological analysis revealed that the inflammatory lesion in the gingival connective tissue (the ICT area) resulting from plaque infection did not extend deeper into the periodontal tissues in sites with a long junctional epithelium than in gingival units of normal height. The results were interpreted to indicate that the barrier function of a long junctional epithelium against plaque infection is not inferior to that provided by a dentogingival epithelium of normal length.