Gingival Sulcus

The gingival sulcus is the point at which the tooth and gums meet, which is the primary component of the emergence profile. This is a highly visible area of the mouth and can impact the overall aesthetics of a patient’s smile. Ideally, the gingival sulcus is close to the tooth, with 3mm or less of space where food particles and bacteria can enter. Beyond this depth, traditional brushing and flossing habits aren’t able to reach and particulates build up over time. This results in bacterial overgrowth and periodontitis, an infection of the gums and potentially the bone tissue underneath. The deeper the gingival sulcus, the more difficult it is to properly clean it without professional care. As time progresses, the infection causes the sulcus to further deepen, compounding the issue and potentially resulting in tooth loss as the alveolar ridge degrades. The depth of the sulcus is easily checked with a dental probe.