The Normal Periodontium

Question 1

Name the three types of mucosa found in the oral cavity

Answer 1

Masticatory, lining, and specialized

Question 2

Name the type of cells that make up masticatory mucosa and where it is found

Answer 2

Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, dorsum of the tongue and that attached gingiva (hard palate and around the alveolar bone)

Question 3

What type of cells make up lining mucosa and where is it found?

Answer 3

Non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and it is found in the buccal and labial mucosa

Question 4

What type of cells make up the specialized mucosa and where is it found?

Answer 4

They are special sense cells (taste) and they are located on the dorsum of the tongue

Question 5

What is one specialized feature of the masticatory epithelium? Explain

Answer 5

Rete Pegs. They are downward projections of the epithelium into the underlying connective tissue, their purpose is to increase the surface area to strengthen the epithelium so it doesn’t separate.

Question 6

Name the four stratum of the epithelium of the oral cavity

Answer 6

Stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and stratum corneum

Question 7

What is different about the stratum corneum?

Answer 7

It is made of dead cells that have no nuclei or organelles and it is highly keratinized

Question 8

There are 3 types of collagen used in the basal lamina, what are they and where are the located?

Answer 8

Collagen IV-Lamina densa, Collagen VII-between basal and reticular lamina (anchoring fibrils), and Collagen III-Lamina reticularis

Question 9

What is parakeratinized epithelium?

Answer 9

It is a hybrid of both keratinized and non-keratinezed epithelium. It is not abnormal but typically not the norm

Question 10

What cell provides color that is located in the basal cell layer?

Answer 10

Melanocytes, there are also melanophages that eat the melanin

Question 11

What are Langerhans cells?

Answer 11

They are macrophages that are located in the connective tissue, they are important in immune responses because they are antigen presenting cells the initiate an immune response.

Question 12

What makes up the periodontium?

Answer 12

Gingiva, Periodontal ligaments, Cementum and the supporting alveolar bone

Question 13

What are the three types of gingiva?

Answer 13

Attached, unattached (marginal & free) and interdental

Question 14

Why does the periodontium change?

Answer 14

It is not the age of the patient but how long they have been exposed to the inflammatory response

Question 15

What are the functions of the periodontium?

Answer 15

TSSN: Tooth support, shock absorber, sensory (for location of the jaw), Nutrition

Question 16

Name 5 functions of the periodontium?

Answer 16

ARMAD: Attach, Resist, Maintain, Adjust, and Defend

Question 17

What are the 4 anatomical areas of the gingiva?

Answer 17

Free gingiva (marginal), gingival sulcus, interdental gingiva, attached gingiva

Question 18

What is usually located at about the same level or slightly apical to the free gingiva?

Answer 18

CEJ

Question 19

What are the boundaries of the gingiva?

Answer 19

From the tooth down to the alveolar mucosa (Mucogingival junction)

Question 20

What does erythema mean?

Answer 20

redness of the skin

Question 21

There are two more names for free gingiva, what are they?

Answer 21

Gingival margin, FGM

Question 22

What are the boundaries of the free gingiva?

Answer 22

Gingival margin and the free gingival groove

Question 23

What are the boundaries of the attached gingiva?

Answer 23

Free gingival groove down to the mucogingival junction

Question 24

What is the typical depth of the sulcus?

Answer 24

0-3 mm

Question 25

What are the two gingival biotypes?

Answer 25

Thin scalloped (more common in women) and thick flat

Question 26

What is the gingival sulcus?

Answer 26

The space between the free gingiva and the tooth surface

Question 27

What is the base of the gingival sulcus from?

Answer 27

Junctional epithelium

Question 28

T o F: The walls of the gingival sulcus are keratinized

Answer 28

False, they are non-keratinized

Question 29

Name two facts about the sulcular epithelium

Answer 29

It is non-keratinized and it is semipermeable

Question 30

Name 4 things about gingival crevicular fluid?

Answer 30

1. Cleanses the gingival sulcus 2. aids in adhesion of the epithelium to the tooth 3. possesses antimicrobial properties 4. exerts antibody activity in defense of the gingiva

Question 31

How is gingival crevicular fluid produced?

Answer 31

The bacterial plaque produces high molecular weight molecules that permeate the epithelial regions but are bound by the basement membrane, this results in an osmotic pressure that draws fluid out of the connective tissue into the sulcus

Question 32

What is the difference between a transudate and an exudate?

Answer 32

Transudate is what normally happens due to the osmotic pressure. When the gingiva is inflamed and more GCF is released it is called an exudate

Question 33

What are 4 ways to collect GCF?

Answer 33

Intracrevicular washing, absorbing paper strips, Micropipettes, and thread twisting

Question 34

What is the composition of GCF?

Answer 34

Enzymatic components- host and bacterial derived products

Non-enzymatic components- organic components, electrolytes, and cellular components (PMNs)