Anatomy of the Periodontium

Question 1

4 Main
Components

Answer 1

gingiva
PDL
cementum
alveolar bone

Question 2

GINGIVA

Answer 2

The oral masticatory mucosa that
surrounds the cervical portion of teeth
and covers the alveolar process of the
maxilla and mandible

Question 3

GINGIVA
composed of (4)

Answer 3

Marginal gingiva (unattached or free gingiva)
Attached gingiva
Alveolar mucosa
Mucogingival junction (MCJ)

Question 4

MARGINAL GINGIVA(UNATTACHED OR FREE GINGIVA)

Answer 4

→Free or unattached, cufflike tissue
surrounding the teeth on facial, lingual, and
interproximal surfaces

Question 5

Gingival Margin (2)

Answer 5

most coronal portion of the gingiva
scalloped outlne of teeth

Question 6

Gingival Sulcus

Answer 6

spaced formed by tooth and sucular epithelium (laterally) and coronal end of the JE (apically)

Question 7

sulcular measurements of

Answer 7

1-3 mm considered WNL of gingival health

Question 8

Free Gingival
Groove. (3)

Answer 8

-divides free gingiva from attached gingiva
-shallow depression
-found in only 50% of patients

Question 9

Interdental gingiva (papilla) (3)

Answer 9

*part of free gingiva
• Occupies the interdental space (fills
embrasure space apical to tooth contact)
• Attached to the tooth by the JE and
connective tissue fibers

Question 10

The Gingival Col

Answer 10

• Valley-like depression of
the interproximal contact
areas

Question 11

The Gingival Col
• Connects

Answer 11

lingual and buccal
interdental papilla

Question 12

The Gingival Col
• Absent when

Answer 12

teeth are not
in contact

Question 13

The Gingival Col
• Nonkeratinized epithelium
susceptible to

Answer 13

inflammation
and disease progression

Question 14

Junctional Epithelium

Answer 14

• Nonkeratinized epithelium
surrounding and attaching to the
tooth on one side, and the gingival
connective tissue on the other side

Question 15

Junctional Epithelium
Base of the

Answer 15

sulcus/pocket

Question 16

JE more permeable to

Answer 16

cells and fluid

Question 17

JE Serves as route of passage of fluid
and cells from the connective tissue
into the sulcus for

Answer 17

bacteria/bacterial
products from sulcus to connective
tissue

Question 18

JE is Easily penetrated by the

Answer 18

periodontal
probe, especially when gingiva is
inflamed

Question 19

JE
Length:

Answer 19

0.25-1.35mm (remember
approx. 1mm)

Question 20

GINIGVAL FIBERS
provides support for

Answer 20

marginal gingiva, including the
interdental papilla

Question 21

Circumferential or circular fibers–

Answer 21

encircle each
tooth in a cufflike fashion within the free gingiva

Question 22

Dentogingival fibers–

Answer 22

embedded within the
cementum; fan outward into the attached
gingiva to the tooth

Question 23

Dentoperiosteal fibers–

Answer 23

embedded in the same
portion of the cementum as the dentogingival
fibers

Question 24

Alveogingival fibers–

Answer 24

inserted in the crest of the
alveolar process and splay out through lamina
propria into the free gingiva

Question 25

Transseptal fibers–

Answer 25

embedded in the cementum; run a horizontal path from adjacent teeth *sometimes classified as PDL*

Question 26

Attached Gingiva

Answer 26

• Attached to the alveolar bone and cementum by connective tissue fibers and epithelial attachment

Question 27

Attached Gingiva • Boundaries are apically demarcated by the coronally demarcated by the

Answer 27

mucogingival junction (MGJ); base of the gingival sulcus

Question 28

Attached Gingiva • Width varies from

Answer 28

1-9mm; widest in facial aspect of maxillary central incisors and narrowest in the mandibular premolar facial areas

Question 29

Attached Gingiva NOT to be measured on the

Answer 29

palate

Question 30

Attached Gingiva • Any changes in the width of attached gingiva results from changes at the

Answer 30

coronal end (i.e., recession)

Question 31

ALVEOLAR MUCOSA (2)

Answer 31

• Movable tissue, loosely attached to underlying alveolar bone • Thin, nonkeratinized epithelium

Question 32

ALVEOLAR MUCOSA Separate from

Answer 32

attached gingiva at the MGJ

Question 33

ALVEOLAR MUCOSA Darker shade of red than gingiva due to

Answer 33

rich blood supply

Question 34

Mucogingival Junction (MGJ)

Answer 34

• Visible line where the pink keratinized gingiva meets the more vascular alveolar mucosa (see arrows)

Question 35

Mucogingival Junction (MGJ) • Found on the (2)

Answer 35

maxillary facial and the mandibular facial and lingual areas