Lab Activity 9: Gingival Descriptions

Initial Steps

• Update patient's health history and obtain necessary signatures.
• Use clinic manual to chart gingival specifics on the yellow assessment form.
• Assess the following aspects: color, size, contour, consistency, and surface texture.

Initial Examination

• Inspect patient’s tissue for any reasons not to work in their mouth (e.g., open sores).
• Example: Small red mark noted lingual to tooth number 15.

Charting Gingival Characteristics

Quadrant 2 (Quad 2) Specifics

Color

• Compare gingival color to general mouth color.
• Description: Light pink, consistent with other areas.

Size

• Evaluate tissue thickness between tooth and outer surface.
• Description: Flat and bound down, firm and tight.

Gingival Contour

• Examine margin and papillary margin.
• Margin: Tight, flat, snug without swelling.
• Suggested descriptors: Knife-edged, flat against the tooth, scalloped.
• Papillary: Pyramid shape, fills interdental space, sharp point.

Consistency

• Evaluate tissue response to pressure.
• Description: Resilient and firm, tissue pops back up.
• Contrast with diseased tissue: Edematous, fibrotic, soft, spongy.

Surface Texture

• Check for stippling as an indicator of healthy tissue.
• Healthy tissue: Little dots resembling orange peel, stippling seen along attached gingiva.
• Diseased tissue indicators: Smooth, shiny, loss of stippling, nodular.

Conclusion

• Comprehensive descriptions gathered for patient's gingiva.
• Noted one localized condition.