The dento-gingival junction as seen with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

The purpose of this paper is to review the anatomical relationship of the Dento-Gingival Junction as seen in the human dentition. The junction is described under light microscopy and then reviewed as seen in the SEM with the author's unpublished findings. The authors' material was derived from extracted human teeth with remaining marginal gingival tissue. The specimens were fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.15M sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.2) for 24 h. The specimens were then washed and freeze-fractured in Freon 113 using liquid nitrogen. Afterwards they were processed by freeze-drying or CPD methods, coated with gold, and placed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) for viewing. These specimens demonstrated the presence of numerous Sharpey's fibers at the cemental surface. A large number of fibrils intermingled with the fibers to produce a dense mass of tissue. Junctional epithelium, with the adjacent homogeneous dental cuticle was demonstrated. Plaque deposits on the tooth surface extended to a cell-free zone. Morphological detail viewed with SEM and light microscopy are compared.