Gingival architectural forms in periodontal diseases.

Changes in the gingival architectural form and the incidence were observed on 1,700 interdental papillae and 3,791 parts of the gingival margin of 89 patients, both males and females, with periodontal diseases. The effects of improperly adapted restoration, tooth irregularity, depth of periodontal pocket and degree of bone loss on the gingival changes were also examined. Of the four types of changes observed in the marginal gingiva, the recessed form occurred most frequently. Next in order of frequency of occurrence were the ledged, festoon and cleft forms. The greater part of the gingival changes observed in the interdental papilla were both of the blunted and enlarged forms. In the interdental papilla, the blunted and cratered forms increased and the enlarged form decreased according to the degree of bone loss. Improperly adapted restoration and tooth irregularity influenced the gingival changes observed. The depth of the periodontal pocket was not found to influence the gingival form.