The normal sulcular depth is three millimeters or less. Through much investigation and research, it has been determined that sulcular depths of three millimeters or less are readily self-cleansable with a properly used toothbrush or the supplemental use of other oral hygiene aids. When the sulcular depth is chronically in excess of three millimeters, regular home care is unable to properly cleanse the full depth of the sulcus, allowing food debris and microbes to accumulate. This poses a danger to the periodontal ligament (PDL) fibers that attach the gingiva to the tooth. If accumulated microbes remain undisturbed in a sulcus for an extended period of time, they will penetrate and ultimately destroy the delicate soft tissue and periodontal attachment fibers. If left untreated, this process may lead to a deepening of the sulcus, recession, destruction of the periodontium, and tooth loss.A gingival pocket presents when the marginal gingiva experiences an edematous reaction, whether due to localized irritation and subsequent inflammation, systemic issues, or drug induced gingival hyperplasia. Regardless of the etiology, when gingival hyperplasia occurs, greater than normal (the measurement in a pre-pathological state) periodontal probing measurements can be read, creating the illusion that periodontal pockets have developed. This phenomena is also referred to as a false pocket or "pseudopocket". The epithelial attachment does not migrate, it simply remains at the same attachment level found in health. The only anatomical landmark experiencing migration is the gingival margin in a coronal direction.
In a gingival pocket, no destruction of the connective tissue fibers (gingival fibers) or alveolar bone occurs. This early sign of disease in the mouth is completely reversible when the etiology of the edematous reaction is eliminated and frequently occurs without dental surgical therapy. However, in certain situations, a gingivectomy is necessary to reduce the gingival pocket depths to a healthy 1-3 mm.
As the original sulcular depth increases and the apical migration of the junctional epithelium has simultaneously taken place, pathosis has occurred. To have a true periodontal pocket, a probing measurement of 4 mm or more must be clinically evidenced. In this state, much of the gingival fibers that initially attached the gingival tissue to the tooth have been irreversibly destroyed.
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