Periodontitis

HEALTHY PERIODONTIUM

Objectives

You should be able to describe the: tissues which constitute the periodontium clinical characteristics of healthy gingiva anatomical features of gingiva including the gingival sulcus various types of gingival epithelium

Definition of Periodontium: Investing and supporting structures of teeth.

These are:

Cementum

Periodontal ligament

Alveolar bone

Gingiva

Definition of gingiva: 

The fibrous investing tissue, covered by epithelium which immediate surrounds a tooth and is contiguous with its periodontal ligament and with the mucosal tissues of the mouth.

 

The gingivae extend from the gingival margin to the mucogingival junction except on the palatal surfaces of maxillary molars where it merges with the palatal mucosa.

Clinical features of gingiva

COLOR: coral pink or pigmented, as opposed to red alveolar mucosa.

CONTOUR: scalloped, but varies with shape and alignment of teeth location of proximal contact etc.

CONSISTENCY: firm and resilient.

SURFACE TEXTURE: like orange peel" and referred as stippled. Varies with age.

POSITION: refers to the level at which it is attached to the tooth. In an adult it is usually attached at the level of cemento-enamel junction.

Next       Course Schedule