Category: Basic Periodontology

Introduction to the host-microbial interactions in periodontal diseases The microbial biofilm that forms around the teeth is the main cause of periodontal disease initiation and progression. This biofilm is a complex community of microorganisms which produces various virulence factors that initiate the inflammatory response. The enzymes released by bacteria in the biofilm include proteases that…

Introduction to dental calculus Although, dental plaque is considered as the primary etiological factor in the development of periodontal diseases; the presence of dental calculus is also of great concern to the clinicians because it facilitates plaque formation by providing the surface for its formation and keeps it in close contact with the gingival tissue.…

Introduction to dental plaque Dental plaque is a complex community of micro-organisms that forms on the surfaces of teeth and restorations and has been implicated as the primary etiological factor in the development of periodontal diseases 1, 2. So far, more than 700 different bacterial species have been identified from the human oral cavity, and…

Introduction to the effects of aging on the periodontium Aging effects all the organ systems in the body and oral tissues are no exception to it. Due to widespread awareness regarding oral health, there has been an improvement in the oral health status of the general population worldwide. However, the process of aging is a…

Introduction to alveolar bone Alveolar bone is the specialized part of maxillary and mandibular bone that supports the teeth. It forms with the eruption of teeth and gradually disappears after the tooth is lost. The alveolar bone consists of an outer cortical plate which is composed of Haversian bone and compacted bone lamellae, a central…

Introduction to dental cementum Cementum is an avascular mineralized mesenchymal tissue covering the entire root surface. Although, it is an integral part of the tooth, but functionally it is a component of the periodontium. It was first described in 1835 329 and since then it has been studied extensively. It functions as the site of…

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…

Introduction 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.…

Introduction 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…

Introduction 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.…