The zone of completely and partially destructed periodontal fibres in pathological pockets

The morphology, the width and the appearance frequency of the zone completely and partially destructed periodontal fibres on human teeth were studied in the stereomicroscope. This zone was present between the most apical border of identifiable, epithelial attachment remnants and the most coronal intact periodontal fibres, and consisted of only a few fibres without any specific orientation. The mean width of the zone was 0.43 mm, and the appearance frequency almost 100%. The results of the comparison between clinical and laboratory pocket depths indicated that the pocket depths measured in the laboratory were always less deep than those recorded clinically. There seemed to be a relationship between these findings and the presence of a zone of completely and partially destructed periodontal fibres.