An Examination of the Cytology of Uninflamed and Inflamed Gingiva Using a Filter Imprint Technique

Filter imprint cytologic specimens were obtained from the gingiva of 41 male dental students following clinical assessment of gingival health using a modification of the Loe gingival index. Nineteen of the specimens were from inflamed, and 22 from uninflamed gingiva. The imprints were fixed and stained by a modification of the Papanicolaou method and macroscopic and microscopic examinations showed that: 1. With increasing severity of clinically detectable gingival inflammation,, there appears to be an increase in the width of the bands of inflammatory cells and epithelial cells adjacent to the gingival margin. 2. An inverse relationship is found between keratinization and inflammation in that the percentages of anucleated epithelial cells was reduced at the gingival margin and significantly reduced midway in the attached gingiva of the inflamed groups. 3. No changes associated with inflammation were noted in cell cytology at the mucogingival junction.