Junctional epithelium
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Overview
The junctional epithelium is that epithelium which lies at, and in health also defines, the base of the gingival sulcus. It attaches to the surface of the tooth with hemidesmosomes and is, on average, roughly 1 mm in width, constituting about one half of the biologic width.[1]
The junctional epithelium lies immediately apical to the sulcular epithelium, which lines the gingival sulcus from the base to the free gingival margin, where it interfaces with the epithelium of the oral cavity.
Cells in the junctional epithelium tend to have wide inter-cellular spaces, to allow the transmission of white blood cells from blood vessels to bottom of the gingival sulcus, to help prevent disease. Damage to the junctional epithelium results in it being irregular in texture, rather than smooth, and the formation of "pocket" epithelium, which is a primary symptom of gum disease.
References
- Bosshardt, D.D., N.P. Lang, J Dent Res 84(1):9-20, 2005
- Oral Histology, Retrieved 2007-08-11.
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
