Peridontium Flashcards
What is the periodontium?
The periodontium is the tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth.
What are the components of the periodontium?
The components include the gingiva, cementum, alveolar process, and periodontal ligament (PDL).
What is the primary function of the periodontium?
Its primary function is to support and surround the teeth.
What is the role of cementum in the periodontium?
Cementum attaches the teeth to the alveolar bone by anchoring the periodontal ligament (PDL).
Where is cementum located?
It forms the outermost layer of the root(s) of the tooth.
Is cementum clinically visible in healthy patients?
No, cementum is not clinically visible in healthy patients.
Where is cementum thickest and thinnest?
It is thickest at the tooth’s apex or apices and in interradicular areas of multirooted teeth, and thinnest at the cementoenamel junction (CEJ).
Does cementum have a nerve supply?
No, cementum does not have a nerve supply.
Is cementum vascular or avascular?
Cementum is avascular.
How does cementum receive its nutrition?
It receives nutrition through the surrounding periodontal ligament (PDL).
Can cementum form throughout the life of the tooth?
Yes, cementum can form throughout the life of the tooth, including after eruption.
What is the composition of mature cementum by weight?
Mature cementum consists of 65% inorganic or mineralized material, 23% organic material, and 12% water.
What crystalline material is found in mature cementum?
The crystalline material is mostly calcium hydroxyapatite.
From where does cementum develop?
Cementum develops from the dental sac.
What initiates the formation of cementum on the root dentin?
Cementum formation begins after the disintegration of Hertwig epithelial root sheath (HERS).
What happens when the dental sac cells contact the root dentin?
The contact induces the undifferentiated cells of the dental sac to become cementoblasts.
What do cementoblasts do during cementum formation?
Cementoblasts disperse to cover the root dentin area and undergo cementogenesis, laying down cementoid.
What are cementocytes, and how are they formed?
Cementocytes are cementoblasts that become entrapped by the cementum they produce.
When is cementoid considered mature cementum?
Cementoid becomes mature cementum when it reaches the full thickness needed and undergoes mineralization.
What are the primary components of cementum?
Cementum is composed of a mineralized fibrous matrix and cementocytes.
What are Sharpey fibers, and where are they located?
Sharpey fibers are collagen fibers from the PDL that are partially inserted into the outer surface of the cementum at a 90º angle and also insert into the alveolar process.
What are the three possible transitional interfaces at the CEJ?
Cementum may overlap enamel (<15%), meet enamel end-to-end (52%), or leave a gap between enamel and cementum, exposing dentin (33%).
What can result from a gap at the CEJ?
A gap can expose dentin, potentially leading to dentinal hypersensitivity.
Can these transitional interfaces vary in an individual’s oral cavity?
Yes, all three patterns can be present within the same individual, and variations can occur even around a single tooth.
What are the two types of cementum?
Acellular cementum and cellular cementum.
What is acellular cementum, and where is it found?
Also called primary cementum, it is the first layer deposited at the DCJ, formed slowly, and contains no embedded cementocytes. At least one layer covers the entire outer surface of the root, with many more layers covering the cervical one-third near the CEJ.
What is cellular cementum, and where is it located?
Also called secondary cementum, it consists of layers deposited over acellular cementum, mainly in the apical one-third of each root. It is formed quickly, capturing cementoblasts during production, resulting in embedded cementocytes.
Can cementum repair itself?
Yes, cementum repairs itself and maintains the tooth’s attachment to the bone through cementogenesis.
What causes the breakdown of cementum?
The breakdown involves resorption of cementum by odontoclasts.
How is cementum repaired?
Cementoblasts in the adjacent PDL produce new cementum through appositional growth.
What are cementicles, and where are they found?
Cementicles are mineralized spherical bodies of cementum found attached to the root surface or free in the PDL.
How do cementicles form?
They form from the appositional growth of cementum around cellular debris in the PDL, often due to microtrauma to Sharpey fibers.
Are cementicles a clinical problem?
Generally, they are not problematic unless they become numerous or large enough to interfere with the PDL, potentially causing tooth mobility or discomfort.
What are cemental spurs?
Cemental spurs are symmetrical spheres of cementum attached to the cemental root surface, similar to enamel pearls.
Where are cemental spurs typically located?
They are usually found at or near the CEJ.
What causes cemental spurs?
They result from irregular deposition of cementum on the root and may be visible on radiographs.
What is hypercementosis? What type of cementum is used acellular or cellular?
Hypercementosis is the excessive production of cellular cementum.
Where is hypercementosis most commonly seen?
It occurs mainly at the apex or apices of the tooth.
How does hypercementosis appear on radiographs?
It appears as a radiopaque mass at each root apex.
What causes hypercementosis?
It may result from occlusal trauma, chronic periapical inflammation, systemic conditions (e.g., Paget disease), or as a compensatory response to attrition to maintain occlusal tooth height.
What is root apex resorption, and what causes it?
It is the resorption of the apical root, often an unwanted side effect of rapid orthodontic therapy.
Which teeth are most commonly affected by root apex resorption?
Permanent maxillary incisors are especially noted for root apex resorption.
What is concrescence?
Concrescence is a rare condition where the cementum of two or more teeth fuses together at the roots.
Which teeth are most commonly affected by concrescence?
It mostly occurs in permanent maxillary molars.
How does concrescence develop?
It happens when excessive cementum deposition on one or more teeth causes the roots to fuse after eruption.
What is the alveolar process, and what is its function?
The alveolar process is the part of the periodontium that attaches cementum to the bone via the PDL. It supports and protects the teeth.
What type of tissue is the alveolar process?
It is a hard mineralized tissue with components similar to other bone tissue.
What is the composition of the mature alveolar process by weight?
It consists of 60% inorganic or mineralized material, 25% organic material, and 15% water.
What crystalline material is found in the alveolar process?
The crystalline material is mostly calcium hydroxyapatite.
What part of the jaws contains the roots of the teeth?
The alveolar process contains the roots of the teeth.
What is the basal bone, and how does it differ from the alveolar process?
The basal bone forms the body of the maxilla or mandible and is not part of the periodontium.
What are the two divisions of the alveolar process?
The two divisions are the alveolar bone proper and the supporting alveolar bone.
What components do the alveolar bone proper and supporting alveolar bone share microscopically?
They both contain fibers, cells, intercellular substances, nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics.
What is the alveolar bone proper (ABP), and what is its function?
The ABP is the lining of the tooth socket (alveolus) and provides support for the tooth.
What type of bone forms the ABP?
It is composed of compact bone.
Why is the ABP also called the cribriform plate?
It contains numerous holes where Volkmann canals allow nerves and blood vessels to pass into the PDL.
What are Sharpey fibers, and how are they associated with the ABP?
Sharpey fibers are collagen fiber bundles that insert into the ABP and help anchor the teeth.
How do the sizes and depths of alveoli vary according to tooth type?
Canines have the deepest alveoli, molars have the widest, and incisors have single, deep, narrow alveoli.
What is the lamina dura, and how does it appear on radiographs?
The lamina dura is the part of the ABP visible on radiographs, appearing uniformly radiopaque.
What is the alveolar crest, and where is it located in a healthy jaw?
The alveolar crest is the most cervical rim of the ABP, located slightly apical to the CEJ, about 1 to 2 mm.
How should the alveolar crests appear in a healthy jaw?
They should be uniform in height along the jaw.
What are the two components of the supporting alveolar bone?
The supporting alveolar bone consists of cortical bone and trabecular bone.
What is cortical bone, and where is it located?
Cortical bone is a plate of compact bone found on the facial and lingual surfaces of the alveolar process.
What is the term used to describe cortical bone in the alveolar process?
It is also referred to as the cortical plate.
Can cortical bone be seen on standard radiographs?
No, it is visible only on occlusal radiographs as a uniformly radiopaque bony sheet.
What is trabecular bone, and where is it located?
Trabecular bone is cancellous (spongy) bone located between the alveolar bone proper and cortical plates.
How does trabecular bone appear on radiographs?
It appears less uniformly radiopaque and more porous than the lamina dura of the ABP.
What is the interdental septum, and where is it located?
The interdental septum is the alveolar process that separates neighboring teeth.
Is the interdental septum visible on radiographs?
Yes, it is visible on both periapical and bitewing radiographs.
What is the interradicular septum, and where is it found?
The interradicular septum separates the roots of the same tooth and is found in multirooted teeth.
Is the interradicular septum visible on radiographs?
Only a part of the interradicular septum is visible on bitewing radiographs.
How does orthodontic therapy affect the alveolar process?
Orthodontic therapy forces bone remodeling, producing tooth movement by creating compression and tension zones in the PDL.
What happens in the compression zone during orthodontic therapy?
Compression in the PDL leads to bone resorption.
What happens in the tension zone during orthodontic therapy?
Tension in the PDL leads to the deposition of new bone.
Does the width of the space between alveoli and roots change during orthodontic therapy?
No, the width remains approximately the same as the tooth is repositioned.
What is mesial drift?
Mesial drift, or physiologic drift, is the natural movement of teeth slightly toward the midline over time.
What can mesial drift cause in adulthood?
It can cause crowding in a previously well-aligned dentition.
What factors influence the degree of mesial drift?
The degree of wear on contact points between adjacent teeth and the number of missing teeth affect mesial drift.
How much movement occurs due to mesial drift over a lifetime?
The total movement may amount to no more than 1 cm over a lifetime.
What is supraeruption?
Supraeruption, also called overeruption or supereruption, is the physiologic movement of a tooth lacking an opposing partner within the occlusion.
Which teeth are most commonly affected by supraeruption?
It commonly occurs in permanent posterior teeth.
What are some consequences of supraeruption?
It may expose root surfaces, leading to dentinal hypersensitivity, root caries, esthetic compromise, and periodontal health issues.