Histologic characteristics of clinically healthy gingiva in adolescents

Gingival biopsies from healthy buccal gingival units in 10 young individuals (12-14 yr) were analyzed morphometrically. The connective tissue was generally characterized by a dense collagenous network, apart from a well defined zone subjacent to the smooth and noninfiltrated junctional epithelium. This zone, which constituted on average 10% of the connective tissue volume, was less dense than the remaining part of the connective tissue and devoid of well defined collagen fiber bundles. This zone could also harbor clusters of inflammatory cells, mainly mononuclear cells, surrounded by non-infiltrated collagen-poor connective tissue. In the noninfiltrated collagen-dense mid-portion of the gingival connective tissue small areas of infiltrates could be found, the composition of which resembled that of the infiltrated areas subjacent to the junctional epithelium.