Gingivitis in the human deciduous dentition. A correlative clinical and block surface light microscopic (BSLM) study

This study examined the relationship between clinical and histomorphometric parameters in the human deciduous dentition. Clinical parameters including plaque index, gingival swelling, gingival color, tooth mobility and degree of root resorption were determined prior to the extraction of teeth. The teeth were extracted with their surrounding gingiva in order to preserve the in situ relationship between the hard and soft tissues. Histomorphometric analysis was carried out on 55 sites, using block surface light microscopy (BSLM). Apical migration of the junctional epithelium was found at 53% (29) of the sites. The gingival sulcus was shallow (0.3 +/- 0.19 mm) and coronal to the cemento-enamel junction at 84% (46) of the sites. Junctional epithelium with retepegs was present at 89% (49) of the sites, whilst an inflammatory cell infiltrate (ICI) was present at all sites examined. The ICI was located opposite to the junctional epithelium and cementum at 80% (44) of the sites. The extent of ICI correlated positively with the patients' age and was significantly increased when clinical evidence of gingival swelling or redness was present.