PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT

Soft tissue component of Periodontium

Introduction
 Soft, specialized

connective tissue
 Situated between

Pulp cavity Enamel Dentin Gingiva

cementum and bone forming the socket wall.

Cementum Periodontal ligament Root canal Alveolar bone Apical foramen Alveolar vessels & nerves

Introduction
 Width : 0.15 mm to 0.38

mm (thinnest in middle third)

 Thickness varies with

age
  

11 to 16 yrs : 0.21 mm 32 to 52 yrs : 0.18 mm 51 to 67 yrs : 0.15 mm

 Function Anchorage

and protection of the tooth

Purpose of PDL
 Attach teeth to bone Extremely strong and

resistant.  Transmit occlusal forces to the bone.  Resist impact of occlusal forces.  Protect vessels and nerves from mechanical injury (pulp).  Maintain gingival tissue in proper relationship to the teeth.  Acts as sensory receptor

Components of Periodontal Ligament

 Cellular components
      

Osteoblasts, Osteoclasts Fibroblasts Cementoblasts, Cementoclasts Undifferenciated mesenchymal cells Epithelial rests of Malassez Macrophages Mast cells

Components of Periodontal Ligament

 Extracellular components
  

Collagen fiber bundles Variants of elastic fibers, elaunin and oxytalan Ground substance
  

Glycosaminoglycans Glycoproteins Glycolipids

Fibroblasts
 Principal cells of PDL  Characteristic ability to achieve exceptionally

high turnover rate of extracellular matrix.

 Large cells with extensive cytoplasm  Abundance of organelles associated with

protein synthesis and secretion.

 Well developed cytoskeleton (esp actin).

Fibroblasts
 Frequent cell to cell contact of both adherens

and gap junctions.

 PDL fibroblasts are associated with

numerous fibronexi.
 Aligned along general direction of fiber

bundles and with extensive processes thats wrap around the fiber bundles.

Fibroblasts
 Responsible for simultaneous synthesis and

degrading collagen.
 Remodelling occurs across the entire width of

the ligament.

Epithelial Cells of Malassez

 Remnants of Hertwigs

epithelial root sheath.  Occur as lacy strands close to cementum surface.  No known function

Osteoblast
 Found on periodontal surface of alveolar

bone in various stages of differenciation.

Cementoblast
 Distributed on root surface in various stages

of differenciation.

Osteoclasts
 Large and multi-nucleated.  Formed by fusion of circulating monocytes.  Howships lacunae.  Numerous cytoplasmic oragnelles


Mitochondria, Lysosomes, Abundant Golgi saccules, free ribosomes, Few RER

Fibroblasts
 Exhibit lysosomes that contain fragments of

collagen.  Cell results in simultaneous synthesis and resorption of collagen fibers.

Cementoclast
 Appear under certain circumstances.  No remodelling of cementum otherwise.

Undifferenciated Mesenchymal Cells

 Progenitor synthetic cells with capacity to

undergo mitotic division.

 Replaces cells which are dying at end of their

lifespan.
 Small, closed faced nucleus and little

cytoplasm.
 Found in highest concentration close to blood

vessels.

Mast Cells
 Small, round or oval having diameter of 12 to

15 m.  Numerous cytoplasmic granules measuring 0.2 to 1m in dia containing heparin and histamine.  Role in inflammatory reaction.  Degranulates in response to antigen-antibody formation.

Macrophages
 Predominantly located near blood vessels.  Histologically similar to fibroblast.  May have horse-shoe shape or kidney

nucleus.  Dense uneven peripheral chromatin.  Dual role

 

Phagocytosing dead cells. Secreting growth factor to regulate proliferation of adjacent fibroblasts.

Collagen Fiber
 Predominantly Type I and Type III collagen.

Collagen Fiber
 In light microscope, collagen fibers are

gathered in bundles seen running between cementum and alveolar bone proper PRINCIPAL FIBERS OF PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT.

Collagen Fiber
 Collagen fibers are embedded into cementum

and into alveolar bone Sharpeys Fibers.

Collagen Fiber
 Fiber inserted in primary acellular cementum

are fully mineralized

 Fibers inserted in cellular cementum and

bone are partially mineralized at their periphery.

Collagen Fiber
 Run a wavy course  May apper as fibers arise from cementum

and alveolar bone to meet in center to form distinct zone Intermediate Plexus

Collagen Fiber
 Believed to be site of rapid remodelling.  Ultramicrosopic studies revealed it to be an

artifact.

Principal Fibers of PDL

Principal Fibers of PDL

 Alveolar Crest Group


Attached to cementum just below CEJ and running downwards and outwards to insert into rim of alveolus.

 Horizontal Group


Just apical to alveolar crest group and running at right angles to long axis of tooth from cementum to bone just below alveolar crest.

Principal Fibers of PDL

 Oblique Group


Most numerous in PDL and running from cementum in an oblique direction to insert into bone coronally.

 Apical Group


Radiating from cementum around the apex of the root to the bone, forming the base of the socket.

Principal Fiber of PDL

 Interradicular Group


Found only between the roots of multi-rooted teeth running from cementum into bone, forming the crest of interradicular septum.

Oxytalan Fiber
 Immature elastic fiber  Visualized with special

stains in human PDL.  Tend to run in an axial direction.

Oxytalan Fiber
 One end embedded possibly

in cementum or bone while the other in wall of blood vessel.

 Usually present in apex to

form complex network.

 Believed to support blood

vessels of perdontal ligament.

Elaunin Fiber
 Represent another form of elastic tissue

consisting of bundles of microfibrils embedded within a small quantity of elastin.

 Together with oxytalan, forms meshwork

extending from cementum to bone and sheathing the collagen bundles.