When a patient suffers from gingivitis, their gingivae appear swollen and inflamed. Which one of the following options does this phenomena give rise to?

When a patient suffers from gingivitis, the inflammation and swelling of the gingivae can lead to the formation of false pockets. False pockets, also referred to as pseudo pockets, occur when the gingivae become enlarged and cover the root surfaces, creating the appearance of pocket depth without the actual loss of supporting periodontal tissue. This swelling is typically a response to inflammation caused by the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth, resulting in the gingiva separating from the tooth surface.

Gingivitis primarily affects the soft tissue without necessarily involving loss of the bone or periodontal attachments that characterize true periodontal pockets. Therefore, the presence of these false pockets is a direct consequence of the inflammatory response associated with gingivitis, marking it as a key indicator of this condition in dental assessments.