L9-Periodontics 2

Question 1

Besides Junctional Epithelium’s major role of attaching the gingiva to the tooth, what is another important function of JE? Explain.

Answer 1

Plays role in induction of inflammatory response when pathogens (bacteria) infiltrate the sulcus (cause periodontitis) and begin moving the the PERMEABLE JE to the Connective tissue, where they could infiltrate the blood stream making someone septic and eventually causing death.
-JE is able to display pathogens on surface and recruit the monocytes and neutrophils present in the JE (as they move from the connective tissue to the sulcus) to induce an inflammatory response.

Question 2

What are the roles of the following gingival fibers?

1. DentoGingival fibers
2. Transgingival fibers
3. Transseptal fibers

Answer 2

1. Dento gingival fibers connect the tooth to the adjacent connective tissue.
   -Directly inserted into cementum. VERY strong
   attachment
2. Transgingival fibers connect gingiva on adjacent teeth
3. Transseptal fibers connect adjacent teeth
   -Directly inserted into cementum of both teeth at
   either end

Question 3

What are the 3 most important combined functions of the gingival fibers?

Answer 3

1. Attach Gingiva to teeth and bone. Big (obvious) one
2. Provide rigidity of gingiva needed to maintain contour/position of gingiva.
3. Resist forces of mastication w/o being deflected away. Very important b/c if gingiva folded outwards as a response to forces from mastication food would impact b/t gingiva and tooth and lead to quick decay and periodontitis.

Question 4

What are the 3 sources of anastomizing blood vessels within the Gingival Connective Tissue?

Answer 4

1. Periosteum associated with alveolar bone
2. Marrow spaces (endostium) of alveolar bone
3. Periodontal ligament vessels

Question 5

What is the developmental epithelial origins of the Junctional Epithelium of an erupted tooth?
What advantage does this infer?

Answer 5

Reduced Epithelium, which consists of reduced ameloblasts, stellate reticulum, stratum intermedium, and outer dental epithelium.
B/c Reduced epithelium is firmly attached to the enamel from the time it is formed by the ameloblasts it does not ever allow bacterial pathogens to enter sulcus and connective tissue to infect child.