Blog Archives

More "Perio"---More "Dontal"

3/11/2018

TO LAST BLOG---2-23-2018--'What's the "Perio"---What's the "Dontal"?'

OR CLICK 'ALL' UNDER CATEGORIES & SCROLL TO BOTTOM

MUSCLES:
' In the previous blog, we defined "PERIO-DONTAL" to
mean those supporting structures involved "around
(or surrounding) the tooth". In past blogs you said the
TOOTH needs the BONE--AND the BONE needs the
TOOTH. Isn't that enough to keep it all going? '

Dr Skerpan:
No!! Remember, we need healthy-BONE AND
healthy-GUM surrounding the TOOTH! We
also said that the TOOTH in the BONE-socket
needs to be stabilized there.

MUSCLES:
' No, No!! Bad Dog!! NOW I remember!
My TOOTH AND BONE must be connected,
stabilized and protected from all the dirty
"junk" that I put in my mouth! Didn't we also
say that the GUM serves as MORE than a
"covering" over the BONE? '

Drawn picture from last blog outlining section of crown & root enlarged for below pictures

This image is from the previous blog. The TOOTH anatomy of the CROWN & ROOT---and the TOOTH positioned within the BONE & GUM.

Dr Skerpan:
Bingo! So let's continue....

Let's first consider how the tooth is stabilized
within the bone-socket. In your body all bones
are connected to muscles via ligaments, or they
couldn't work together at all! So too, the tooth
must be connected to the bone it "stands" in!
For the tooth, the connecting fibers from
ROOT-to-BONE are called the "perio-dontal
ligament".

Drawn picture with perio-dontal ligament encircled & where it attaches ROOT-to-BONE

The "perio-dontal ligament" attaches the ROOT-to-BONE

As for the GUM (also called "gingiva"), you remembered correctly that it serves
as MORE than a "covering" over the BONE. Looking at the pictures below, the
gum is thinner and looser ("alveolar mucosa") away from the "crown"-of-the-
tooth. As the gum approaches the "crown"-of-the-tooth, it becomes thick gum
(or "keratinized") and is attached to the bone (or "attached gingiva"). This mar-
gin of BONE-to-GUM attachment makes the gum a stabilized and protective
barrier for the bone.

The THIN GUM is "alveolar mucosa" & the THICK GUM is "keratinized".

Drawn image shows THICK GUM (free & attached) surrounding the crown-of-the-tooth.....

The margin of THICK GUM is attached to the surrounding BONE near the "crown"-of-the-tooth.....

Drawn image with the attached gum encircled--i.e., BONE-to-GUM area of attachment

.....and this "attached gum" serves as a stabilized & protective barrier for the BONE.

MUSCLES:
' Yes, Yes!! Good Dog!! My tail is waggin' again! I was right! The GUM is MORE
than a "covering" over the bone! So, the root is attached to the bone--and the
gum is attached to the bone. But so far, the gum is still serving only as a "cov-
ering" on my bone. How is the gum protecting these attachments from my
spit, bacteria and other "mouth-junk"? Can't "junk" still slip down into these
attachment areas? '

Dr Skerpan:
  You are "right on your nose" about all these components and attachments still
being open to the mouth-environment. This whole "support-system-around-
the-tooth" remains vulnerable to breakdown as long as it remains an open system. So, the thick gum folds back on itself like the skin going under a
human finger nail. Again see the above picture of the THICK GUM--and note
the free gum closest to the "crown"-of-the-tooth. This small amount of non- attached thick gum folds back on itself and attaches back to the tooth (also
see picture below for clarification). This GUM-to-TOOTH attachment (or "junc-
    tional epithelium") "seals" the whole "support-system-around-the-tooth, and
makes the system closed and protected. This whole closed "support-system-
around-the-tooth" IS THE PERIO-DONTAL ASPECT OF THE TOOTH!

Drawn picture with the GUM-to-TOOTH attachment encircled--it

The GUM-to-TOOTH attachment ("junctional eprthelum") "seals" the whole "support-system-of-the-tooth".

MUSCLES:
' Let me do a simple "doggy-summary". The TOOTH "stands" in the bone. The
ROOT is attached to the bone. The BONE is attached to the gum. The GUM
attaches back to the tooth. Everything in this closed "support-system-
around-the-tooth" IS THE PERIO-DONTAL ASPECT OF MY TOOTH. My
TOOTH itself has to be healthy. However, my tooth is useless if it is not sur-
rounded by the healthy intact perio-dontal structures which connect, stab-
ilize and protect it. '

' Hey! You can check out more of me (and more about the"bone"
in PERIO-DONTICS) in our video @ "DR SKERPAN & SERVICES"! '

Doggy Tidbit of the Day: The root attaches to the bone---the bone attaches to the gum---the gum attaches back to the tooth. And PERIO & PERIO & PERIO we go!