The distance from CEJ to JE is 6 mm. The patient presents with 3 mm of gingival overgrowth. What is the probing depth?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by identifying the key measurements given and how they relate to probing depth.
First, the distance from the CEJ (cementoenamel junction) to the JE (junctional epithelium) is 6 mm. This represents the biologic distance from the tooth surface to the crestal epithelial attachment.
Next, there is gingival overgrowth described as 3 mm. In the context of probing depth, a gingival overgrowth that is coronal to the CEJ means the gingival margin sits toward the crown, reducing the distance from the margin to the JE.
If the gingival margin is 3 mm coronal (toward the crown) to the CEJ, the remaining distance from the gingival margin down to the JE would be 6 mm − 3 mm = 3 mm.
So, the probing depth is 3 mm in this scenario.
Now, evaluating the other options:
- 9 mm would imply adding the gingival overgrowth to the CEJ–JE distance, which would only be the case if the gingival margin were apical to the CEJ (recession), not described here.
- 0 mm would indicate no sulcus depth, which is physiologically unlikely given a 6 mm CEJ–JE distance and a 3 mm overgrowth.
- 5 mm does not align with the simple subtraction of coronal margin position from the CEJ–JE distance in this setup.
Thus, the 3 mm option correctly reflects the probing depth given the margin located 3 mm coronally to the CEJ.

The distance from CEJ to JE is 6 mm. The patient presents with 3 mm of gingival overgrowth. What is the probing depth?

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