Ultrasonographic features of gingival tissue in health and gingivitis.

This study aimed to characterize the ultrastructural and vascular modifications in gingival tissue associated with inflammation using UHFUS. A cross-sectional clinical investigation compared 20 participants with generalized gingivitis to 20 periodontally healthy controls. Standardized UHFUS (70 MHz) imaging of designated gingival sites was performed to objectively quantify tissue thickness, echogenicity (textural echointensity), and key vascularization parameters via Doppler analysis. The results demonstrated significant morphofunctional alterations in inflamed gingiva. The objective UHFUS-derived metrics indicated that gingival inflammation involves not only increased perfusion but also substantive underlying architectural changes. The findings provide a foundational reference for detecting subclinical tissue changes and offer a potential objective framework for monitoring therapeutic outcomes in periodontal research and clinical trials.