Gingival fibers
![The gingival fibers, (H), extend from the cementum (B) into the attached gingiva. Some fibers extend coronally into the crest of the free gingiva, some horizontally, and still other extend horizontally over the crest of the alveolar bone, (C), and then apically to connect on the facial aspect of the buccal plate of the alveolar bone.](/Images/godic/202501/15/Periodontium.svg0837.png")
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. They are primarily composed of type I collagen, although type III fibers are also involved.
These fibers, unlike the fibers of the periodontal ligament, in general, attach the tooth to the gingival tissue, rather than the tooth to the alveolar bone.