Introduction to periodontal ligament The periodontal ligament (PDL) is derived from the dental sac tissue, which invests the tooth germ. It is a complex, vascular, and highly cellular soft connective tissue interposed between roots of the teeth and the inner wall of the alveolar socket. It has the shape of an “hour glass” and is…
Read MoreIntroduction to clinical features of normal gingiva The knowledge regarding the normal features of the gingiva is essential to understand the pathological changes that occur in the periodontium in various periodontal diseases. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease with microbial etiology being its primary etiology. There are various inflammatory changes that can be seen in periodontitis.…
Read MoreIntroduction to vascular supply and innervation of the gingiva The orofacial structures have a very rich vascular supply. The periodontium is a highly vascular and innervated structure in the orofacial region. There is a network of blood vessels that supply and drain teeth and their supporting tissues. A very important artery that supplies the maxillary…
Read MoreIntroduction to gingival connective tissue The connective tissue of the gingiva is termed as lamina propria. It is densely collagenous with a few elastic fibers. It consists of two layers: papillary and reticular layer. The papillary layer lies adjacent to the epithelium and the reticular layer is contiguous with the periosteum of the alveolar bone.…
Read MoreIntroduction to junctional epithelium The term junctional epithelium denotes the tissue that is affixed to the tooth on one side and to the oral sulcular epithelium and connective tissue on the other side 17, 100. The junctional epithelium is the epithelial component of the “dentogingival unit” that is in contact with the tooth surface. It…
Read MoreIntroduction to the healthy periodontium Periodontium refers to a group of specialized tissues that surround and support the teeth, maintaining them in the maxillary and mandibular bones. The word ‘Periodontium’ is derived from the Greek words peri-, meaning “around” and -odons, meaning “tooth”. Periodontium comprises of root cementum, periodontal ligament, bone lining the tooth socket…
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