ANATOMY, STRUCTURE

AND FUNCTION OF THE

PERIODONTIUM

Boris Vrhovac 140E/15

Dentistry - 4th year
 Periodontium is a collective term for all of the
tissues and structures that surround the teeth and
provide them with necessary support for normal
functioning.
 The main parts of periodontium are:
 Oral mucosa
 Cementum

 Alveolar process
 Periodontal ligament
 ORAL MUCOSA

 Oral mucosa consists of three zones:

 The gingiva and the covering of the hard palate (masticatory mucosa)
 Specialized mucosa that covers the dorsum of the tongue
 The oral mucous membrane
GINGIVA

Gingiva covers the alveolar bone and the tooth root to a

level just coronal to the cementoenamel junction. According to
anatomical features, gingiva is divided into:
- marginal gingiva
- attached gingiva
- interdental areas
MARGINAL GINGIVA
The marginal or unnatached gingiva is the terminal border of
gingiva that surrounds the teeth. Usually, its separated from the
attached gingiva by a free gingival groove.
The marginal gingiva is about 1mm wide and together with the
tooth surface it forms the gingival sulcus.
 GINGIVAL SULCUS

The gingival sulcus is a shallow space

around the tooth thats bounded, on one side
with the tooth surface, and on the other side
by the epithelium lining the free margin of the
gingiva.
It is V shaped and normaly has a depth of
around 1.8mm, which can be inspected by
probing with a special periodontal probe.
ATTACHED GINGIVA
 Anatomically, the attached gingiva is continuous with the marginal gingiva. Its firm,
resilient and tightly bounded to the underlying periosteum.
 On one side its bounded by the free gingival groove and on the other side by the
alveolar mucosa (mucogingival junction).
 One of the important clinical features is the width of the attached gingiva. Normal
width is around 3.5mm in the anterior region and 1.8mm in the posterior segment.
 INTERDENTAL GINGIVA

The interdental gingiva occupies the interproximal spaces

beneath the contact points of teeth. It can be pyramidal and col-
like in shape, depending on the distance between teeth.
These gingival elevations are called interdental papillae and in
case of diastema they are absent.
COLOUR OF GINGIVA
The colour of the attached and marginal gingiva is
described as „coral pink“ and it depends of the
vascularization, thickness and the degree of
keratinization.
On the other hand, the colour of the alveolar
mucosa is red, smooth and shiny.
 SIZE OF GINGIVA
The size of gingiva depends on all of the cellular and
intercellular elements as well as the level of vascularization.
Alterations in size are a common sign of gingival diseases.
SURFACE TEXTURE OF GINGIVA

The surface of gingiva is stippled, and it can best be seen after

drying. This is produced by projections of gingival connective tissue
into the overlying epithelium.
Only attached gingiva is stippled, marginal is not.
POSITION OF GINGIVA
The position of gingiva is a level at wich the gingival margin is
connected to the tooth.
During tooth erruption, in the beginning, the gingival margin is
at the tip of the crown and later it undergoes extensive remodeling,
together with the oral mucosa.
 PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT

The periodontal ligament is composed of a

highly vascularized and higly cellular connective
tissue that surrounds the tooth root and connects it
to the inner wall of the alveolar bone. Histologically,
its continuous with the connective tissue of gingiva.
The basic elements of periodontal ligament are
the periodontal fibers, cellular elements and ground
substance.
FUNCTIONS OF PERIODONTAL
LIGAMENT

 The functions of periodontal ligament are categorized as:

 Physical
 Formative and remodeling
 Nutritional and sensory
PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS

The physical functions of periodontal

ligament are providim of the soft tissue casing
for nerves and blood vessels, transmission of
occlusal forces to the bone, attachment of the
teeth to the bone and resistance to impacts
and occlusal forces.
FORMATIVE AND REMODELING
FUNCTION

This function is allowing the teeth and periodontium to

accomodate to stress and other occlusal and masticatory forces.
The periodontal ligament helps all of the structures move
together and find a suitable position.
 NUTRITIONAL AND SENSORY
FUNCTION

The periodontal ligament supplies nutrients to the

cementum, bone and gingiva via the bloodvessels and
also provides lymphatic drainage.
The nerve supply of the periodontal ligament originates
from the trigeminal nerve and they are transmitting tactile,
pressure and pain sensations.
CEMENTUM

Cementum is a calcified, avascular mesenchymal tissue that

forms the outer layer of ht eanatomic tooth root.
Important clinical features of cementum are cementoenamel
junction and the cementodentinal junction.
 CEMENTOENAMEL JUNCTION

This is of great clinical importance because

the connection betwen cementum and enamel
can vary.
Overlapping, butt joint or no contact might
be possible.
CEMENTODENTINAL JUNCTION

Cementodentinal junction is located at the terminal apical

area of the tooth root. This border is clinically used as a line untill
which the obturating material during endodontic treatment should
be placed.
ALVEOLAR PROCESS

The alveolar process is a portion of the bone (maxilla or the

mandible) that forms the tooth sockets (alveoli). It forms the osseous
attachment for periodontal ligament and other periodontic tissues.
SOCKET WALL
The socket wall consists of dense, lamellated bone thats
oriented parallel to the tooth root and gives a surface for the
attachment of the periodontal ligament.
INTERDENTAL SEPTUM
The interdental septum is a bony wall between adjacent teeth.
Its borders are the socket walls and facial and lingual bony plates.
The mesiodisal and faciolingual dimensions and shape of the
interdental septum are determined by the size and shape of the
teeth crowns and roots.
THE END