Periodontium – Part 1

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The periodontium can be defined as some specific types of tissues that can support and invest the tooth within its socket. The periodontium consists of Periodontal Ligament (PDL), Alveolar Bone (AB),Cementum, and Part of the gingival that faces the tooth.

Gingiva:
Gingiva is one of the developmental part of oral mucosa that basically covers tooth root and alveolar bone just to a level coronal to the Cemento-Enamel Junction (CEJ).
Gingiva is one of the important structures of oral mucosa and it is a part of soft tissue lining of the mouth. It works through surrounding the teeth and provide a seal around them. In comparison with the soft tissue lining of the lips and the cheeks, most of the gingival part will be tightly bound to the underlying bone that has been designed for resisting the friction of food passing over them. However, a healthy gingiva is coral pink in color but may have physiologic pigmentation. Changes in color may occur due to the inflammation. It will be reddish in color, and edematous swelling will be present. Besides, the increased level of bleeding tendency will also indicate inflammation that possibly occurs due to the accumulation of dental plaque.

Part of Gingiva:
1.Free gingiva :- Marginal Gingiva + Interdental Papillae.
2.Attached gingival.

Marginal Gingiva :- The marginal gingival is the terminal portion of the gingival that surrounds the teeth in collar-like fashion. In about half of the individual, it has been demarcated from the adjacent and attached gingival through a shallow linear depression which is also known as the free gingival groove. This free gingival groove is usually 1mm wide. It basically forms the soft tissue wall of the gingival sulcus.
Interdental Papillae: - The Interdental Papillae occupies the gingival embrassor, and it is the interdental space beneath the area of tooth contact. The shape of interdental papillae is pyramidal in shape.
Attached Gingiva :- The attached gingival is continual form of marginal gingival. It is firm and resilient. It is tightly bound to the underlying periosteum of alveolar bone. The facial aspect of the attached gingival extends to the relatively loose and movable alveolar mucosa from which it is demarcated through the muco-gingival junction

Gingival Sulcus :- The gingival sulcus is a shallow space or crevice around the tooth that has been bounded through the surface of the tooth from one side and the lining epithelium of the free margin of the gingival on the other side. Normal probing depth of the gingival sulcus is 2-3mm. It will be considered as the pathological condition if the sulcus depth is more than 3mm. The content of this gingival sulcus is gingival crevicular fluid.
Characteristic features :-
-Color – Coral Pink.
-Contour or shape – Scalloped.
-Consistency – Firm and resilient, but in free gingival it is movable.
-Surface Texture - It is quite similar to orange peel and it is also referred as being stippled through dying the gingiva. Stippling is basically being produced through the alternate round protuberances and depressions in the gingival surface.
Function :- The main function of gingival is to protect the underlying structure against mechanical and microbial damage.