The periodontium is the set of tissues that surround, protect, and support the teeth. The tissues that make up the periodontium are the gums, the periodontal ligament, the root cementum, and the alveolar bone.
We can distinguish between the:
- Upper component or protective periodontium: Gums
- Lower component or anchoring periodontium: Root cementum, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament
Characteristics of healthy periodontium: elements of the attachment apparatus
- Gingival sulcus: the space between the tooth and the sulcular epithelium, extending to the gingival margin (0.5 mm to 3 mm).
- Gingival margin: the coronal edge of the gum.
- Attachment epithelium: tissue composed of epithelial cells that attach the gum to the tooth.
- Alveolar crest: upper boundary of the alveolar bone.
- Supracrestal fibers: thick, highly resistant fibers. They cover the alveolar crest. Very strong gum-to-tooth attachment.
- Periodontal ligament: fibers connecting the cementum to the alveolar bone.
- Alveolar mucosa: tissue lining the oral cavity. Non-keratinized.
- Mucogingival line: separates the gingival mucosa (gums) from the alveolar mucosa.
- Gums: keratinized on the buccal surface and non-keratinized on the palatal and lingual surfaces.
- Free or marginal: From the gingival margin to the beginning of the junctional epithelium.
- Attached gingiva: Firmly attached to the tooth and the alveolar bone.
