The relationship between the width of keratinized gingiva and gingival health.

Thirty-two dental students between 19-29 years of age with no pathologic pockets performed supervised oral hygiene (daily supervision with the Plak-Lite® dis­ closing system) 3 1 for 6 weeks. Following this period, the gingiva of all buccal and lingual tooth surfaces was assessed using the Gingival Index system. 2 Oral hy­ giene was scored on all surfaces according to the criteria of the Plaque Index system. 3 The identification of the mucogingival junction was facilitated by staining with Schiller's IKI solution. 3 4 Using this method, the epithe­ lium of the alveolar mucosa yielded an iodine-positive reaction while the keratinized gingiva was iodine-nega­ t i v e , 3 4 3 6 (Figure 1 a,b). After application of the Schiller solution, the width of keratinized gingiva was measured FIGURE 1. Clinical photographs showing the mucogingival junction a) without stain b) after application of the Schiller IKI solution.