Lecture 2 Anatomy of the Periodontium

Question 1

What are the 4 main components of the periodontium?

Answer 1

1. Gingiva
2. PDL
3. Cementum
4. Alveolar Bone

Question 2

Gingiva is __

Answer 2

the soft tissue that surrounds the cervical portion of teeth and covers the alveolar process of the maxilla and mandible

Question 3

Gingia is comprised of :

Answer 3

Marginal gingiva (unattached or free gingiva)

Attached gingiva

Alveolar mucosa (more red; more blood in that area)

Mucogingival junction (MCJ)

Question 4

What Marginal Gingiva?

Answer 4

(UNATTACHED OR FREE GINGIVA)

surrounding the teeth on facial, lingual, and interproximal surfaces

Question 5

Gingival Margin is ____ & ____

Answer 5

Most coronal portion of the gingiva
&
Scalloped outline of teeth

Question 6

Gingival Sulcus is the ____

Answer 6

Space formed by tooth and sulcular epithelium (laterally) and the coronal end of the JE (apically)

Sulcular measurements of 1-3mm considered WNL of gingival health

Question 7

Free Gingival Groove ____

Answer 7

Divides free gingiva from attached gingiva

Is a Shallow Depression

Found in only 50% of patients

Question 8

Papilla (Interdental Gingiva)

Answer 8

occupies the interdental space (fills the embrasure space apical to the tooth contact)

Is attached to the tooth by the JE and connective tissue fibers

Question 9

The Gingival Col is _____

Answer 9

a valley - like depression of the interproximal contact areas

it connects the lingual and buccal interdental papilla

is absent when teeth are not in contact

is NONKERATINIZED epithelium susceptible to inflammation and disease progression

Question 10

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

• Base of the sulcus/pocket

• JE more permeable to cells and fluid
•
 Serves as route of passage of fluid 
and cells from the connective tissue 
into the sulcus for bacteria/bacterial 
products from sulcus to connective 
tissue

• Easily penetrated by the periodontal
probe, especially when gingiva is
inflamed

• Length: 0.25-1.35mm (remember
»approx. 1mm

Answer 10

Junctional Epithelium

Question 11

What do Gingival Fibers do?

Answer 11

Gingival fibers provide support for marginal gingiva (including the interdental papilla)

Question 12

What are Circumferential or circular fibers?

Answer 12

Circumferential or circular fibers– encircle each tooth in a cufflike fashion within the free gingiva

Question 13

What are Dentogingival Fibers?

Answer 13

Dentogingival fibers– embedded within the cementum; fan outward into the attached gingiva to the toot

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Dentoperiosteal Fibers

Question 15

inserted in the crest of the

alveolar process and splay out through lamina propria into the free gingiva

Answer 15

Alveologingival Fibers

Question 16

embedded in the cementum; run a horizontal path from adjacent teeth

Answer 16

Transseptal Fibers

Question 17

Know the Clinical Gingival Characteristics Chart on slide 16 of 42

Answer 17

.

Question 18

What is the ultimate factor of gingivitis?

Answer 18

Redness

Question 19

• Attached to the alveolar bone and 
cementum by connective tissue fibers 
and epithelial attachment
• Boundaries are apically demarcated by 
the mucogingival junction (MGJ); 
coronally demarcated by the base of the 
gingival sulcus
• Width varies from 1-9mm; widest in facial 
aspect of maxillary central incisors and 
narrowest in the mandibular premolar 
facial areas
• NOT to be measured on the palate
• Any changes in the width of attached 
gingiva results from changes at the 
coronal end (i.e., recession)

Answer 19

Attached Gingiva

Question 20

Measuring Attached Gingiva

Answer 20

.

Question 21

Lack of Attached Gingiva

Answer 21

recession of free gingiva, so attached gingiva is lost

soft tissue grafting can restore this

Question 22

Alveolar Mucosa is

Answer 22

• Movable tissue, loosely attached to underlying alveolar bone
• Thin, nonkeratinized epithelium
• Separate from attached gingiva at the MGJ
• Darker shade of red than gingiva due to rich blood supply

Question 23

Mucogingival Junction (MGJ)

Answer 23

• Visible line where the pink keratinized gingiva meets the more vascular alveolar mucosa (see arrows)
• Found on the maxillary facial and the mandibular facial and lingual areas

Question 24

What are the Characteristics of Cementum?

Answer 24

• Calcified connective tissue covering the roots of the teeth
• Least mineralized of the calcified tissues of the tooth
• function: to attach fibers of the PDL to the tooth (like cement)
• No blood, lymph vessels of innervation noted
• Continuously deposited in the apical area of the root throughout life

Question 25

What are the functions of the Periodontal Ligament (PDL)?

Answer 25

Supportive: anchors tooth to bone • Sharpey’s fibers: portion of PDL that insert into bone and cementum Formative: helps maintain biologic activity of bone and cementum Nutritive: supplies nutrients and removes waste products via blood and lymph vessels Sensory: capable of transmitting tactile pressure and pain sensation

Question 26

PDL width ____

Answer 26

can only be seen in radiographs depends on age depends on stage of eruption depends on function of tooth depends on angle of film

Question 27

Alveolar bone is the ..

Answer 27

bone that forms and supports the alveoli (tooth sockets)

Question 28

Alveolar bone (alveolar process)

Answer 28

consists of alveolar bone proper and supporting bone

Question 29

Alveolar bone contour of the alveolar bone

Answer 29

follows contour of the CEJ and arrangement of the dentition

Question 30

Alveolar bone shape of the alveolar crest

Answer 30

is generally parallel to the CEJ of adjacent teeth approximately 1.5-2mm apical to the CEJ

Question 31

Alveolar Bone cortical plates are usually..

Answer 31

thicker in the mandible than in the maxilla

Question 32

Alveolar bone proper is a ____

Answer 32

thin layer of bone that surrounds the root and gives attachment to the PDL Is termed Lamina dura in radiographic images also called cribriform plate

Question 33

Supportive Alveolar Bone is a portion of ....

Answer 33

alveolar process that surrounds the alveolar bone proper and gives support to the sockets ~is compact (cortical) ~cancellous or trabecular (spongy) bone