During probing, which condition best describes a healthy sulcus's color and contour?

• A. No inflammation/bleeding
• B. Pink, firm gingiva
• C. 4 mm probing depths
• D. Probe touches roots below CEJ

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that healthy gingival tissue around a tooth has a specific look and feel: pink, firm gingiva that sits snugly against the tooth. This pink color reflects normal, noninflamed tissue, and the firm consistency indicates healthy connective tissue without swelling. While no inflammation or bleeding can occur in health and probing depths are shallow, the color and contour most precisely describe a healthy sulcus as pink and firm. The other options describe either the absence of signs of disease that aren’t about color/texture (no inflammation/bleeding), a measurement outside healthy limits (4 mm depths), or a condition of the tissue not characteristic of a healthy sulcus (roots exposed below the CEJ).