Periodontium

Periodontium

The Periodontium is the specialized tissues that both surround and support the teeth, maintaining them in the maxillary and mandibular bones. The word comes from the Greek terms peri, meaning "around" and -odont, meaning "tooth". Literally taken, it means that which is "around the tooth". Periodontium consists of four principal components which include the gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone.

Structure

Gingiva

The gingiva is the part of the oral mucosa that covers the alveolar processes of the jaws and surrounds the neck of the teeth. It is divided into free or marginal gingiva, attached gingiva, and interdental gingiva.

Periodontal Ligament

The periodontal ligament is a specialized connective tissue that attaches the cementum of a tooth to the alveolar bone. This tissue is a part of the periodontium that provides for the attachment of the teeth to the surrounding alveolar bone by way of the cementum.

Cementum

Cementum is a specialized calcified substance covering the root of a tooth. It is the part of the periodontium that attaches the teeth to the alveolar bone by anchoring the periodontal ligament.

Alveolar Bone

The alveolar bone is the bone of the jaw that forms the alveolus around teeth. It is also a part of the periodontium that supports the teeth by forming a socket (or alveolus) to house the roots of teeth.

Function

The periodontium is involved in many functions, including tooth support, proprioception, mastication, and minor tooth movement that occurs after the teeth have erupted into the mouth.

Clinical Significance

Diseases of the periodontium include periodontitis and gingivitis. In severe cases, diseases of the periodontium may lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the periodontium and can lead to the loss of teeth.

See Also

• Dental anatomy
• Oral hygiene
• Periodontal disease

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