Week 1 Flashcards
Gingiva
Mucosa that surrounds cervical portions of teeth and covers the alveolar processes of the jaws
Function of gingiva
Protection, comprised of defense mechanisms
four anatomical areas of gingiva
Free gingiva
Gingival sulcus
Interdental gingiva
Attached gingiva
boundaries of gingiva
gingival margin, alveolar mucosa
demarcations of gingiva
free gingival groove, mucogingival junction
free gingiva
unattached portion surrounding the tooth, forms wall of gingival sulcus
Gingival sulcus
V-shaped space between the free gingiva and tooth surface; healthy sulcus is 1-3mm; base formed by junctional epithelium.
interdental gingiva
fills space between two adjacent teeth – prevents food impaction
parts of the interdental gingiva
Papillae (plural), papilla (singular)
Col – only present when there is an adjacent tooth, connects facial and lingual papilla; valley-like depression.
attached gingiva
tissue between free gingiva and alveolar mucosa; allows tissue to withstand forces during chewing, speaking, & brushing.
attached gingiva appearance
appearance varies from pale pink to pigmented – varies greatly from one person to person
stippled attached gingiva
40% of adults
periodontal ligament
Soft, dense, fibrous connective tissue in periodontal space, between root cementum and alveolar bone that forms the tooth socket wall.
periodontal ligament function
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)
cementum
Thin layer of hard, mineralized connective tissue that covers the root surface
cementum function
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
alveolar bone
Mineralized connective tissue, bone of upper/lower jaws, surrounds tooth roots
function of alveolar bone
supports & protects roots of teeth
alveolar bone is made up of
alveolar bone proper, cortical bone, cancellous bone, periosteum
alveolar bone proper
lines tooth socket
cortical bone
hard outside wall of maxilla and mandible – protection!
cancellous bone
fills interior portion of alveolar process
periosteum
outer surface of bone made up of soft connective tissue
nerve supply of periodontium
pain, touch, pressure
most mandibular periodontal tissues drain by
submandibular lymph nodes
