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Gum (gingiva)

The gingiva, commonly known as the gum, is the soft tissue covering the alveolar processes of the jaws and surrounding the base of the teeth. It forms an important barrier protecting the underlying bone and periodontal structures, playing a key role in oral health. The gingiva consists of a dense connective tissue core covered by a stratified squamous epithelium. Radiologically, the gum appears as a thin, soft tissue structure closely apposed to the alveolar bone and teeth, with variable visibility depending on the imaging modality and technical parameters.

MRI Appearance

  • T1-weighted images

    • Gingiva appears as a thin, low to intermediate signal intensity soft tissue layer lining the alveolar bone.

    • May be slightly hyperintense compared to adjacent bone but less intense than subcutaneous fat.

    • Differentiation from adjacent oral mucosa and muscle may be challenging due to similar signal characteristics.

  • T2-weighted images

    • The gingiva demonstrates intermediate to mildly hyperintense signal relative to muscle.

    • Still appears as a thin rim over the alveolar process.

    • Edema, inflammation, or pathology may cause increased T2 signal.

  • STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery)

    • Normal gingiva appears with intermediate signal on STIR, with any edema or inflammation causing a marked increase in signal intensity.

    • Useful for detecting soft tissue pathology or inflammatory changes involving the gums.

CT Appearance

  • Gingiva on CT

    • Appears as a thin, homogeneous soft tissue density along the alveolar margins.

    • Attenuation is similar to other soft tissues of the oral cavity (measured in Hounsfield units, typically 30–50 HU).

    • Well-differentiated from the high-density alveolar bone and lower-density air in the oral cavity.

MRI images

Gum (gingiva) mri axial image -img-00000-00000