Morphological changes of gums in occlusal trauma

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Oral Pathology
• Histology

Background:

• Occlusal trauma significantly impacts the periodontium, leading to morphological changes in the gingival tissues surrounding teeth.
• Understanding these modifications is crucial for diagnosing and managing conditions related to occlusal trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the morphological alterations in the marginal periodontium of teeth subjected to occlusal trauma.
• To correlate these histological changes with tooth type and topographical factors.

Main Methods:

• Histological analysis of marginal periodontium fragments from 51 patients with occlusal trauma.
• Utilized Hematoxylin-Eosin, Masson's trichrome, and anti-CD34 immunostaining.
• Assessed epithelial and connective tissue parameters based on topographical criteria.

Main Results:

• Epithelial changes were observed, influenced by tooth type and dental arch.
• Decreased epithelial thickness correlated with increased fibrosis and reduced vascular density.
• Leukoplakia prevalence was linked to tooth type, epithelial thickness, and papillary compartment fibrosis.

Conclusions:

• Occlusal trauma induces localized morphological changes in the surrounding periodontium.
• The topography of occlusal trauma lesions influences these localized structural modifications.