Gingival enlargement without destruction of the underlying periodontal tissues

# Which type of pocket is formed by gingival enlargement without destruction of the underlying periodontal tissues?
A. Gingival pocket
B. Periodontal pocket
C. Suprabony pocket
D. Infrabony pocket

The correct answer is A. Gingival pocket.

Deepening of the gingival sulcus may occur by coronal movement of the gingival margin, apical displacement of the gingival attachment, or a combination of the two processes.

Pockets can be classified as follows:

• Gingival pocket (pseudopocket): this type of pocket is formed by gingival enlargement without destruction of the underlying periodontal tissues. All gingival pockets are suprabony (the base of the pocket is coronal to the crest of the alveolar bone). The sulcus is deepened because of the increased bulk of the gingiva.

•Periodontal pocket: this type of pocket occurs with destruction of the supporting periodontal

tissues. Progressive pocket deepening leads to destruction of the supporting periodontal tissues and loosening and exfoliation of the teeth. 

Two types of periodontal pockets exist:

• Intrabony (infrabony, subcrestal, or intraalveolar): in which the bottom of the pocket is apical to the level of the adjacent alveolar bone

• Supra bony (supracrestal or supraalveolar): in which the bottom of the pocket is coronal to the underlying alveolar bone.