Week 1

Question 1

Gingiva

Answer 1

Mucosa that surrounds cervical portions of teeth and covers the alveolar processes of the jaws

Question 2

Function of gingiva

Answer 2

Protection, comprised of defense mechanisms

Question 3

four anatomical areas of gingiva

Answer 3

Free gingiva
Gingival sulcus
Interdental gingiva
Attached gingiva

Question 4

boundaries of gingiva

Answer 4

gingival margin, alveolar mucosa

Question 5

demarcations of gingiva

Answer 5

free gingival groove, mucogingival junction

Question 6

free gingiva

Answer 6

unattached portion surrounding the tooth, forms wall of gingival sulcus

Question 7

Gingival sulcus

Answer 7

V-shaped space between the free gingiva and tooth surface; healthy sulcus is 1-3mm; base formed by junctional epithelium.

Question 8

interdental gingiva

Answer 8

fills space between two adjacent teeth – prevents food impaction

Question 9

parts of the interdental gingiva

Answer 9

Papillae (plural), papilla (singular)
Col – only present when there is an adjacent tooth, connects facial and lingual papilla; valley-like depression.

Question 10

attached gingiva

Answer 10

tissue between free gingiva and alveolar mucosa; allows tissue to withstand forces during chewing, speaking, & brushing.

Question 11

attached gingiva appearance

Answer 11

appearance varies from pale pink to pigmented – varies greatly from one person to person

Question 12

stippled attached gingiva

Answer 12

40% of adults

Question 13

periodontal ligament

Answer 13

Soft, dense, fibrous connective tissue in periodontal space, between root cementum and alveolar bone that forms the tooth socket wall.

Question 14

periodontal ligament function

Answer 14

Provides support
Sensory (pressure & pain)
Provides nutrients to cementum and bone
Formative function with fibroblasts, cementoblasts and osteoblasts
Remodeling of alveolar bone in response to pressure (as in ortho)

Question 15

cementum

Answer 15

Thin layer of hard, mineralized connective tissue that covers the root surface

Question 16

cementum function

Answer 16

Main function to give attachment to PDL collagen fibers
Via terminal endings known as Sharpey’s fibers
Protects underlying dentin
Seals the ends of open dentinal tubules
Compensates for occlusal/incisal attrition to maintain tooth length

Question 17

alveolar bone

Answer 17

Mineralized connective tissue, bone of upper/lower jaws, surrounds tooth roots

Question 18

function of alveolar bone

Answer 18

supports & protects roots of teeth

Question 19

alveolar bone is made up of

Answer 19

alveolar bone proper, cortical bone, cancellous bone, periosteum

Question 20

alveolar bone proper

Answer 20

lines tooth socket

Question 21

cortical bone

Answer 21

hard outside wall of maxilla and mandible – protection!

Question 22

cancellous bone

Answer 22

fills interior portion of alveolar process

Question 23

periosteum

Answer 23

outer surface of bone made up of soft connective tissue

Question 24

nerve supply of periodontium

Answer 24

pain, touch, pressure

Question 25

most mandibular periodontal tissues drain by

Answer 25

submandibular lymph nodes