Boundary of attached gingiva

# Which one describes the boundaries that define the attached gingiva?
A. From the gingival margin to the interdental groove
B. From the free gingival groove to the gingival margin
C. From the mucogingival junction to the free gingival groove
D. From the epithelial attachment to the cementoenamel junction

The correct answer is: C. From the mucogingival junction to the free gingival groove.

In an adult, normal gingiva covers the alveolar bone and tooth root to a level just coronal to the CEJ. The gingiva is divided anatomically into marginal, attached, and interdental areas.

- Marginal or unattached gingiva: is the terminal edge or border of the gingiva surrounding the

teeth in collar- like fashion. In about 50% of cases, it is demarcated from the adjacent attached gingiva by a shallow linear depression, the free gingival groove. Usually about 1 mm wide, the marginal gingiva fonns the soft tissue wall of the gingival sulcus.

- Attached gingiva: is continuous with the marginal gingiva. It is firm , resilient, and tightly bound

to the underlying periosteum of alveolar bone. The fac ial aspect of the attached gingiva extends to

the re latively loose and movable alveolar mucosa and is demarcated by the mucogingival junction.

" Stippling" of the attached gingiva refers to the irregular surface texture of the attached gingiva, similar to the surface of an orange peel. Stippl ing occurs at the intersection of epithelial ridges that causes the depression and the interspersing of connective tissue papillae between these intersections giving rise to the small bumps.