TCDHA PERIO MIDTERM EXAM STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A 2026
1. periodontium
Answer:: - functional system of TISSUES that surrounds teeth and attaches them to the jawbone
- "supporting tissues of teeth" or "attachment apparatus"
peri = around. odontos = tooth
2. tissues of the periodontium:
Answer: - gingiva
- cementum
- periodontal ligament
- alveolar bone
3. gingiva:
Answer: the part of mucosa that surrounds CERVICAL portions of teeth and COVERS ALVEOLAR PROCESS
,- attached by specialized epithelial tissue (which makes up the junctional epithelium)
- composed of thin outer layer of epithelium and underlying layer of CT
4. function of gingiva:
Answer: - protects underlying tooth-supporting structures of periodontium from oral environ- ment (thru
defense mechanisms such as saliva and immune system)
5. gingival margin:
Answer: - upper edge (coronal)
- follows tooth contour creating a scalloped outline
6. alveolar mucosa:
Answer: - lower edge (apical)
- dark red tissue
7. free gingival groove:
Answer: a shallow linear depression separating FREE and ATTACHED GINGIVA (hard to see)
8. mucogingival junction:
Answer: where the pink attached gingiva meets the red alveolar mucosa (clinically visible)
9. four anatomical areas of gingiva:
Answer: 1. free gingiva
2. attached gingiva
,3. interdental gingiva
4. gingival sulcus
10. free gingiva:
Answer: - UNATTACHED, surrounds tooth in the region of CEJ
- "unattached gingiva" "marginal gingiva"
- turtleneck
- fits closely around the tooth but is not directly attached
- located ABOVE CEJ
11. free gingiva is attched by:
Answer: junctional epithelium
- forms soft tissue lateral wall of the gingival sulcus
12. attached gingiva:
Answer: tightly bound to the underlying cementum (continuous with free gingiva)
- on the cervical-third of the root and on the periosteum of the alveolar bone
- dimpled/stippled
13. attached gingiva located between
Answer:: free gingiva and alveolar mucosa
, - widest in the incisor and molar regions
- narrowest in premolar regions
14. dimpled/stippled appearance only seen on:
Answer: attached and interdental gingiva
- NOT on marginal/free gingva
- provides mechanical reinforcement
15. purpose of attached gingiva:
Answer: - withstand forces during chewing, speaking and brushing
- prevents free gingiva from being pulled apically from the tooth when tension is applied to alveolar mucosa
16. interdental gingiva:
Answer: - fills the interdental space (embrasure) just below contact area
- prevents food between teeth
- gingival col
17. 2 interdental papillae:
Answer: - FACIAL & LINGUAL
- lateral border and tip formed by free gingiva of adjacent teeth
- centre is formed by attached gingiva
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS GRADED A 2026
1. periodontium
Answer:: - functional system of TISSUES that surrounds teeth and attaches them to the jawbone
- "supporting tissues of teeth" or "attachment apparatus"
peri = around. odontos = tooth
2. tissues of the periodontium:
Answer: - gingiva
- cementum
- periodontal ligament
- alveolar bone
3. gingiva:
Answer: the part of mucosa that surrounds CERVICAL portions of teeth and COVERS ALVEOLAR PROCESS
,- attached by specialized epithelial tissue (which makes up the junctional epithelium)
- composed of thin outer layer of epithelium and underlying layer of CT
4. function of gingiva:
Answer: - protects underlying tooth-supporting structures of periodontium from oral environ- ment (thru
defense mechanisms such as saliva and immune system)
5. gingival margin:
Answer: - upper edge (coronal)
- follows tooth contour creating a scalloped outline
6. alveolar mucosa:
Answer: - lower edge (apical)
- dark red tissue
7. free gingival groove:
Answer: a shallow linear depression separating FREE and ATTACHED GINGIVA (hard to see)
8. mucogingival junction:
Answer: where the pink attached gingiva meets the red alveolar mucosa (clinically visible)
9. four anatomical areas of gingiva:
Answer: 1. free gingiva
2. attached gingiva
,3. interdental gingiva
4. gingival sulcus
10. free gingiva:
Answer: - UNATTACHED, surrounds tooth in the region of CEJ
- "unattached gingiva" "marginal gingiva"
- turtleneck
- fits closely around the tooth but is not directly attached
- located ABOVE CEJ
11. free gingiva is attched by:
Answer: junctional epithelium
- forms soft tissue lateral wall of the gingival sulcus
12. attached gingiva:
Answer: tightly bound to the underlying cementum (continuous with free gingiva)
- on the cervical-third of the root and on the periosteum of the alveolar bone
- dimpled/stippled
13. attached gingiva located between
Answer:: free gingiva and alveolar mucosa
, - widest in the incisor and molar regions
- narrowest in premolar regions
14. dimpled/stippled appearance only seen on:
Answer: attached and interdental gingiva
- NOT on marginal/free gingva
- provides mechanical reinforcement
15. purpose of attached gingiva:
Answer: - withstand forces during chewing, speaking and brushing
- prevents free gingiva from being pulled apically from the tooth when tension is applied to alveolar mucosa
16. interdental gingiva:
Answer: - fills the interdental space (embrasure) just below contact area
- prevents food between teeth
- gingival col
17. 2 interdental papillae:
Answer: - FACIAL & LINGUAL
- lateral border and tip formed by free gingiva of adjacent teeth
- centre is formed by attached gingiva
