Ch 1 Foundations of Periodontics
for the Dental Hygienist latest
version 2026/2027
4 Tissues of the Periodontium -Answer--1. Gingiva
2. PDL
3. Cementum
4. Alveolar bone
Gingiva: three functions -Answer--1) Provides a tissue seal around cervical neck of
tooth
2) Covers alveolar processes
3) Holds tissue tight against tooth during mastication
Cementum: function -Answer--Anchors ends of PDL fibers to the tooth, helping
maintain tooth in the socket
Periodontal Ligament: two functions -Answer--Suspends and maintains the tooth in
its socket
Alveolar Bone: two functions -Answer--Surrounds and supports the roots of the tooth
Knowledge of the periodontium in health allows us to understand what 3 things?
-Answer--1) normal function 2) disease prevention 3) pathogenesis of periodontal
disease
Gingiva is ________________ to the CEJ, attached to the tooth by _____, and has a
thin outer _____________, underlying _____________ tissue. -Answer--· Coronal,
JE, epithelium, connective
Four anatomical areas of gingiva; -Answer--o Free gingiva
o Gingival Sulcus
o Interdental Gingiva
, o Attached Gingiva
Masticatory mucosa; tissue type(s)? -Answer--keratinized and nonkeratinized
stratified squamous epithelium (depends on location)
Defense mechanism of the oral cavity? -Answer--Saliva and the immune system
Free gingiva is also called what two names? -Answer--"unattached", "marginal"
Free gingiva forms the _______ tissue wall of the sulcus? -Answer--lateral
Free gingiva is ________ to the CEJ? -Answer--Coronal
Free gingiva attaches to the tooth at the base by the ____? -Answer--JE
Free gingiva follows the ________ of teeth, is _________. -Answer--curve, scalloped
Coronal boundary of the free gingiva is the ____? -Answer--· Thin, rounded edge
coronally is the gingival margin
Apical boundary of the free gingiva is the ____? -Answer--Attached gingiva at the
Free gingival groove (not clinically visible)
The attached gingiva is ______ with the free gingiva; -Answer--Continuous
Tightly bound to cementum on cervical third of the root and the periosteum of
alveolar bone proper -Answer--Attached Gingiva
Attached gingiva is widest at ________ and ________ -Answer--incisors, molars
Where can you not measure the width of the attached gingiva? -Answer--the palate
because a clinical demarcation is not possible
Can be pigmented due to melanin; called "physiologic pigmentation"
-Answer--Attached gingiva
Texture on the _________________ can be stippled (40% of people) or not;
-Answer--Attached gingiva
Attached gingiva functions; two -Answer--allows gingival issue to withstand
mechanical forces, prevents free gingiva from being pulled away apically from tooth
when tension is applied to the alveolar mucosa
Interdental gingiva location -Answer--Fills embrasure space between adjacent teeth
for the Dental Hygienist latest
version 2026/2027
4 Tissues of the Periodontium -Answer--1. Gingiva
2. PDL
3. Cementum
4. Alveolar bone
Gingiva: three functions -Answer--1) Provides a tissue seal around cervical neck of
tooth
2) Covers alveolar processes
3) Holds tissue tight against tooth during mastication
Cementum: function -Answer--Anchors ends of PDL fibers to the tooth, helping
maintain tooth in the socket
Periodontal Ligament: two functions -Answer--Suspends and maintains the tooth in
its socket
Alveolar Bone: two functions -Answer--Surrounds and supports the roots of the tooth
Knowledge of the periodontium in health allows us to understand what 3 things?
-Answer--1) normal function 2) disease prevention 3) pathogenesis of periodontal
disease
Gingiva is ________________ to the CEJ, attached to the tooth by _____, and has a
thin outer _____________, underlying _____________ tissue. -Answer--· Coronal,
JE, epithelium, connective
Four anatomical areas of gingiva; -Answer--o Free gingiva
o Gingival Sulcus
o Interdental Gingiva
, o Attached Gingiva
Masticatory mucosa; tissue type(s)? -Answer--keratinized and nonkeratinized
stratified squamous epithelium (depends on location)
Defense mechanism of the oral cavity? -Answer--Saliva and the immune system
Free gingiva is also called what two names? -Answer--"unattached", "marginal"
Free gingiva forms the _______ tissue wall of the sulcus? -Answer--lateral
Free gingiva is ________ to the CEJ? -Answer--Coronal
Free gingiva attaches to the tooth at the base by the ____? -Answer--JE
Free gingiva follows the ________ of teeth, is _________. -Answer--curve, scalloped
Coronal boundary of the free gingiva is the ____? -Answer--· Thin, rounded edge
coronally is the gingival margin
Apical boundary of the free gingiva is the ____? -Answer--Attached gingiva at the
Free gingival groove (not clinically visible)
The attached gingiva is ______ with the free gingiva; -Answer--Continuous
Tightly bound to cementum on cervical third of the root and the periosteum of
alveolar bone proper -Answer--Attached Gingiva
Attached gingiva is widest at ________ and ________ -Answer--incisors, molars
Where can you not measure the width of the attached gingiva? -Answer--the palate
because a clinical demarcation is not possible
Can be pigmented due to melanin; called "physiologic pigmentation"
-Answer--Attached gingiva
Texture on the _________________ can be stippled (40% of people) or not;
-Answer--Attached gingiva
Attached gingiva functions; two -Answer--allows gingival issue to withstand
mechanical forces, prevents free gingiva from being pulled away apically from tooth
when tension is applied to the alveolar mucosa
Interdental gingiva location -Answer--Fills embrasure space between adjacent teeth
