Perio Terms Ch. 1

Front 1

Periodontium

Back 1

the functional system of tissues that surrounds the teeth and attaches them to the jaw bone. The periodontium is also called the “supporting tissues of the teeth” and “the attachment apparatus”.

Front 2

Gingiva

Back 2

the part of the mucosa that surrounds the cervical portions of the teeth and covers the alveolar processes of the jaws.

Front 3

PDL

Back 3

a thin sheet of fibrous connective tissue that surrounds the roots of the teeth and joins the root cementum with the bone of the tooth socket.

Front 4

Cementum

Back 4

a mineralized layer of connective tissue that covers the root of the tooth; anatomically, cementum is part of the tooth; however, it also part of the periodontium.

Front 5

Alveolar Bone

Back 5

the bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth. It forms the bony sockets that support and protect the roots of the teeth.

Front 6

Gingival Margin

Back 6

the thin, rounded edge of free gingiva that forms the coronal boundary, or upper edge, of the gingiva. In health, the gingival margin contacts the tooth slightly coronal to the cementoenamel junction.

Front 7

Alveolar Mucosa

Back 7

the apical boundary, or lower edge, of the gingiva; it can be distinguished easily from the gingiva by its dark red color and smooth, shiny surface.

Front 8

Free Gingival Groove

Back 8

a shallow linear depression that separates the free and attached gingiva; this line may be visible clinically but is not obvious in many instances.

Front 9

Mucogingival Junction

Back 9

the clinically visible boundary where the pink attached gingiva meets the red, shiny alveolar mucosa.

Front 10

Free Gingiva

Back 10

the unattached portion of the gingiva that surrounds the tooth in the region of the cementoenamel junction; also known as the unattached gingiva or the marginal gingiva.

Front 11

Attached Gingiva

Back 11

the part of the gingiva that is fi rm, dense, and tightly connected to the cementum on the cervical third of the root or to the periosteum (connective tissue cover) of the alveolar bone.

Front 12

Stippling

Back 12

the dimpled appearance, similar to an orange peel, that may be visible on the surface of the attached gingiva.

Front 13

Interdental Gingiva

Back 13

the portion of the gingiva that fills the interdental embrasure between two adjacent teeth apical to the contact area. The interdental gingiva consists of two interdental papillae.

Front 14

Gingival Sulcus

Back 14

the space between the free gingiva and the tooth surface.

Front 15

Gingival Crevicular Fluid

Back 15

a fluid that flows into the sulcus from the adjacent gingival connective tissue; the fl ow is slight in health and increases in disease.

Front 16

Alveolar Bone

Back 16

the bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth. It forms the bony sockets that support and protect the roots of the teeth.

Front 17

Alveolar Process

Back 17

the bone of the upper or lower jaw that surrounds and supports the roots of the teeth.

Front 18

Alveolar Bone Proper

Back 18

the thin layer of bone that lines the socket to surround the root of the tooth (also called the cribriform plate); the ends of the periodontal ligament fibers are embedded in the alveolar bone proper.

Front 19

Alveolus

Back 19

the bony socket; a cavity in the alveolar bone that houses the root of a tooth.

Front 20

Cortical Bone

Back 20

a layer of compact bone that forms the hard, outside wall of the mandible and maxilla on the facial and lingual aspects; cortical bone surrounds the alveolar bone proper and gives support to the socket.

Front 21

Alveoar Crest

Back 21

the most coronal portion of the alveolar process. In health, the alveolar crest is located 1–2 mm apical to (below) the cementoenamel junctions (CEJ) of the teeth.

Front 22

Cancellous Bone

Back 22

the lattice-like bone that fi lls the interior portion of the alveolar process between the cortical bone and the alveolar bone proper; cancellous bone is oriented around the tooth to form support for the alveolar bone proper.

Front 23

Periosteum

Back 23

a dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps the outer surface of the alveolar bone; it consists of an outer layer of collagenous tissue and an inner layer of fine elastic fibers.

Front 24

Innervation

Back 24

nerve supply; innervation to the periodontium occurs via the branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Front 25

Anastomose

Back 25

to join together; in the periodontium, a complex system of blood vessels supplies blood to the periodontal tissues.

Front 26

Lymphatic System

Back 26

a network of lymph nodes connected by lymphatic vessels that plays an important role in the body’s defense against infection.

Front 27

Lymph Nodes

Back 27

small, bean-shaped structures located on either side of the head, neck, armpits, and groin; these nodes filter out and trap bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other unwanted substances to safely eliminate them from the body.