Course Overview

I. INTRODUCTION

       The periodontium

II. GINGIVA

    A. Clinical features
                Quiz

    B. Microscopic features

        1. Gingival epithelium
            a. Oral epithelium
            b. Sulcular epithelium
            c. Junctional epithelium
                Quiz  

        2.  Gingival connective tissue
            a. Gingival fibers - Collagen
                Gingival fibers - Other fibers
                Gingival fibers - Classification
            b. Cells
            c. Vessels and nerves
            d. Connective tissue-epithelial interactions
                Quiz

        3.  Development of the dentogingival junction
            a. Early stages
            b. Formation of the reduced enamel epithelium
            c. Tooth eruption - Active and passive eruption
            d. Periodontal probing

    C. Clinical considerations
                Quiz

III.  PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT

    A. Functions

    B. Origin and development
   
    C. Principal fibers

    D. Cells, vessels and nerves

    E. Clinical considerations
                Quiz

IV.  CEMENTUM

    A. Origin and Development

    B. Classification

    C. Cementogenesis
        1. Coronal cementum
        2. Radicular cementum
        3. Reparative cementum
        4. Cementum cells
        5. CEJ relationships/Cementum composition

    D. Developmental anomalies

    E. Clinical considerations
                Quiz

V.  BONE

    A. Structural characteristics
        1. General features
        2. Microscopic features

    B. Bone remodeling

    C. Clinical considerations
                Quiz

VI.  GLOSSARY

VII. REFERENCES

VIII. FINAL QUIZ

Dentistry on the Internet

Summary

• This course is designed to serve as a refresher course on the histology of the periodontium for students and graduate dentists that have already attended a formal course.  It may also serve as an introduction to periodontal histology to professionals with a non-dental background, but with some knowledge of biology.
• The topics are divided into 4 major parts, one for each of the periodontal tisues, namely gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum and alveolar bone.  The course assume a prior knowledge of basic histology of various tissue types, such as mineralized and non-mineralized connective tissues and  epithelium.  At the end of certain sections, a short quiz will test your understanding of that section.
• Some references are provided for additional detail.  These have been chosen to emphasize textbook chapters or reviews, rather than original research reports.
• At the end of this course, you should be able to describe the main structural characteristics of the periodontal tissues and their relevance to normal masticatory function.

        Now meet your faculty:     Max A. Listgarten, DDS

University of Pennsylvania and Temple University © 1999. All rights reserved. Created: May 8, 1999  Revised: URL: Max A. Listgarten: Comments to author: max@listgarten.com (Technical Support: TU Department of Dental Informatics: Heiko Spallek)