The free gingival margin is the interface between the sulcular epithelium

Sulcular epithelium

The sulcular epithelium is that epithelium which lines the gingival sulcus. It is apically bounded by the junctional epithelium and meets the epithelium of the oral cavity at the height of the free gingival margin. The sulcular epithelium is nonkeratinized....

 and the epithelium

Epithelium

Epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body, and also form many glands. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective...

 of the oral cavity. This interface exists at the most coronal

Commonly used terms of relationship and comparison in dentistry

There are numerous commonly used terms of relationship and comparison that refer to different aspects of teeth and are frequently utilized in articles about dentistry...

 point of the gingiva

Gingiva

The gingiva , or gums, consists of the mucosal tissue that lies over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth.-General description:...

, otherwise known as the crest of the marginal gingiva.

Because the short part of gingiva existing above the height of the underlying Alveolar process of maxilla

Alveolar process of maxilla

The alveolar process is the thickened ridge of bone that contains the tooth sockets on bones that bear teeth. It is also referred to as the alveolar bone. In humans, the tooth-bearing bones are the maxilla and the mandible...

, known as the free gingiva, is not bound down to the periosteum

Periosteum

Periosteum is a membrane that lines the outer surface of all bones, except at the joints of long bones. Endosteum lines the inner surface of all bones....

 that envelops the bone, it is moveable. However, due to the presence of gingival fibers

Gingival fibers

The gingival fibers are the connective tissue fibers that inhabit the gingival tissue adjacent to teeth and help hold the tissue firmly against the teeth...

 such as the dentogingival and circular fibers, the free gingiva remains pulled up against the surface of the tooth unless being pushed away by, for example, a periodontal probe

Periodontal probe

A periodontal probe is an instrument in dentistry commonly used in the dental armamentarium. It is usually long, thin, and blunted at the end. The primary purpose of a periodontal probe is to measure pocket depths around a tooth in order to establish the state of health of the periodontium...

 or the bristles of a toothbrush

Toothbrush

The toothbrush is an oral hygiene instrument used to clean the teeth and gums that consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles mounted on a handle, which facilitates the cleansing of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Toothpaste, which often contains fluoride, is commonly used in conjunction...

.

Gingival retraction or recession

Gingival retraction or gingival recession is when there is lateral movement of the gingival margin away from the tooth surface. It is usually termed gingival retraction as an intentional procedure, and in such cases it is performed by mechanical, chemical, or electrical means in order to perform certain dental surgery

Dental surgery

Dental surgery is any of a number of medical procedures that involve artificially modifying dentition, in other words surgery of the teeth and jaw bones.-Types:Some of the more common are:...

 procedures. It is usually referred to as gingival recession as a spontaneous or non-intentional presentation, and in such cases it may indicate an underlying inflammation, a pocket formation or displacement of the marginal gingivae away from the tooth by mechanical, chemical, or surgical means. It may expose the roots of the teeth, similarly to gingival recession,