Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

Apical migration of the epithelial attachment leading to atrophy of the marginal gingiva results in periodontal pocket recession. This phenomenon occurs as the attachment of the gingival epithelium moves further away from the tooth surface, causing the gingiva to recede. As the epithelium migrates apically, the periodontal tissues may be affected, leading to the loss of connective tissue and possibly the bone support around the tooth. This type of recession is characterized by a gingival margin that is lower than its normal position, which can create a pocket that is associated with the loss of periodontal attachment.

In this context, a true pocket refers to a space that forms due to the pathological expansion of the periodontal sulcus, whereas a false periodontal pocket does not involve loss of attachment, but rather changes to the surrounding tissues without apical movement of the attachment. A gingival cleft typically describes a specific type of defect in the gingiva rather than the changes described by the question. Understanding these aspects illustrates why periodontal pocket recession is the correct outcome resulting from apical migration of the epithelial attachment.