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PERIODONTAL ANATOMY

Terminal Learning Objectives

Identify the basic facts and characteristics pertaining

to the supporting structures of the teeth with 70%
accuracy.
Enabling Learning Objectives

a. Identify the basic facts and characteristics pertaining

to the oral mucosa with 70% accuracy.

b. Identify the basic facts and characteristics pertaining

to the gingiva with 70% accuracy.

c. Identify the basic facts and characteristics pertaining

to the periodontal ligament with 70% accuracy.

d. Identify the basic facts and characteristics pertaining

to the alveolar process with 70% accuracy.
INTRODUCTION

Have you ever wondered what keeps your teeth from falling out?
What keeps them from hurting or getting damaged when you bite
something? The knowledge that you will gain from this lecture
will give you a clear understanding of the anatomy of periodontal
tissues and supporting structures of the teeth. You will be
better able to anticipate the dental officer's needs as he treats
patients and understand his rationale when performing selected
procedures.

ORAL MUCOSA

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The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane covering the entire

oral cavity. The tissue is specialized and adapted to meet the
needs of the area that it covers.

Lining mucosa is very thin, delicate tissue that tears and

injures easily. It covers the soft tissues not covered by the
masticatory mucosa. It is inside the cheeks, vestibule (trough
between the gingiva), lips, cheeks, ventral surface of the tongue
(underneath) and soft palate (posterior 1/3 of the palate).
Masticatory mucosa is a dense, tough tissue designed to
withstand the friction and pressure of mastication (chewing). It
is firmly attached to the bone and does not move. It covers the
hard palate (anterior 2/3 of the palate).
- The incisive papillae is an oval or pear-shaped
tissue located posterior to the maxillary central
incisors at the midline. It covers the incisive
canal.
- The palatine raphe is a ridge of masticatory mucosa
that extends from the incisive papillae posteriorly
in the middle of the palate.

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- The palatine rugae are irregular ridges or folds

of masticatory mucosa on the hard palate and extend
laterally from the incisive papilla and the anterior
section of the raphe (ridge of masticatory musosa).
NOTE: Rugae is plural; ruga is singular.

Specialized mucosa.

- The dorsum (top) of the tongue is covered by a

thick, highly specialized epithelium. The ventral
(underside) of the tongue is very vascular and is
covered by a very delicate lining mucosa. Taste buds
are located on the dorsum of the tongue.
- Filiform papillae are projections of small pointed
area that are found on the dorsum of the anterior 2/3
of the tongue. They are velvet-like in appearance.
They provide a sense of touch but do not have taste
receptors. Filiform papillae provide traction for
maneuvering objects in the oral cavity.
- Fungiform papillae are small circular papillae that
are located in the anterior 2/3 of the dorsal area of
tongue. They are deep red in color and are larger
in size that filiform. Fungiform papillae contain
taste receptors (taste buds).

- Vallate papillae are large papillae located in a

V-formation on the posterior dorsal surface. They
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contain taste buds.

- Foliate papillae are small indistinct papillae
located on the folds of the posterior area of the
sides of the tongue. They are red, leaf-like
projections that contain taste buds.
GINGIVA

Gingiva is commonly referred to as gums. Gingiva surround a

tooth in a color-like manner and is self-cleansing in form. The
color of gingiva varies depending on a person's pigmentation. It
is firm and resistant and tightly adapted to the tooth and bone.
It has a stippled appearance that is similar to an orange peel.

- Marginal gingiva (free gingiva) is not attached to

the bone. It is the tissue from the gingival margin
to the base of the gingival sulcus.

- The gingival margin is the highest point of

free gingiva. It follows a wavy course around
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the tooth in a collar like fashion.

- The epithelial attachment is where tissue
attaches to the tooth and forms the base of the
sulcus.
- The gingival sulcus is the space between free
gingiva and the tooth. It arises from the
epithelial attachment at the base of the sulcus
and rises to the gingival margin. The depth of
healthy sulcus rarely exceeds 2 to 3 mm.

- The interdental papilla is the extension of the

free gingiva that fills the space between two
teeth.

- Attached gingiva extend from the base of the

sulcus to the lining mucosa. It is a stippled,
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dense tissue, self-protecting in form, and is firmly

bound to the bone. It is firmly bound and resilient
and is a fibrous tissue.
PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT

The periodontal ligament is a dense connective tissue

surrounding the tooth. It extends from the cementum to the
alveolar bone. It is specially adapted to support the tooth in
its socket and allows a tooth to withstand the pressures of
forces of mastication. It helps resist movement of a tooth, for
example, twisting, lateral and tipping. The primary component is
a systematic arrangement of coarse bundles of dense fibrous
tissue. At one end, the fibers are embedded in cementum and at
the other end, they are embedded in bone. These embedded ends
mineralize and are known as Sharpy's fibers.

- Principal Fiber Groups.

- The alveolar crest group extend from the crest

of the alveolar process and attaches itself to
the cervical part of the cementum. Their main
function is to retain the tooth in the socket
and to oppose lateral forces.
- The horizontal group extend at right angles to
the long axis of the tooth, from the cementum to
the bone. Their main function is to restrain
lateral tooth movement.
- The Oblique group extend upwardly at an oblique
angle from the cementum to the bone. These
fiber bundles are the most numerous and make up
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