Periodontal Ligament

Introduction

 Soft fibrous specialised connective tissue present

in periodontal space b/w cementum of root &
bone forming the socket wall

 Other names
 Gomphosis
 Desmodent
 Pericementum
 Dental Periosteum
 Alveo-dental ligament
 Periodontal membrane
Is the dense, fibrous
connective tissue ...
Average width is 0.2mm
Nonfunctional,unerupted
Heavy occlusal stress
Hour-glass shaped
Widest cervically
 Evolution

Reptiles teeth are ankylosed to bone & growth is by

sutures
Mammals teeth are suspended by ligaments in
sockets & growth is by cartilage
 Hertwigs Epith Root Sheath

Epithelial Rests of Malassez

Cells of dental follicle migrate to root dentin

Migrated follicular cells – cementoblast lay

cementum

Other cells of dental follicle differentiate into

fibroblast, synthesize fibers & extra cellular
substance of PL
Dental follicle cells
 CONSTITUENTS OF THE PDL…..

1.Fibres
2.Ground
substance
3.Cells
4.Blood vessels
5.Nerves
6.lymphatics
 PRINCIPAL FIBERS -

 Primarily composed of type I collagen fibrils.

 Also contains oxytalan fibers -related to the

microfibrillar component of elastic fibers.
 Principal fibers of the PDL

Alveolar crest group

Horizontal group
Oblique group
Apical group
Interradicular group
ALVEOLAR CREST FIBRES-
HORIZONTAL FIBERS -
OBLIQUE FIBRES -
APICAL FIBERS -
INTER RADICULAR FIBRES -
 TRANSEPTAL FIBRES -

•Do not have

osseous
attachment
•Run from
cementum to
cementum
•Reconstructed
even after
destruction
 Arrangement of principle fibres –

 Previously –
Fibres embedded in
bone intercalated with
fibres from cementum
 Recent evidence –
fibres cross entire
width but en route
branch & join adjacent
fibre
 Intermediate plexus –
Randomly arranged
SHARPEYS FIBRES -
FIBRES OF THE PDL -

ELASTIC FIBRE
SYSTEM
FIBRES & CELLS OF THE PDL….
 collagen
These are principal fibres of the periodontal
ligament.
Type1 & type 3 collagen are present.
They are high molecular weight protein attached to
small number of sugars & glycoproteins.
They are rod like & arranged in the form of bundles
or fibres.
 Oxytalan fibres
These are elastic fibres found in the PL
They are restricted to the walls of the blood vessels.
They originate from cementun or bone & are
embedded into walls of the blood vessels.
They support blood vessels in the PL.
 CELLS OF THE PDL -

1. Fibroblasts
2. Cementoblasts
3. Cementoclasts
4. Osteoblasts
5. Osteoclasts
6. Epithelial cell rests
7. Defense cells – macrophage
leucocytes
lymphocytes
mast cells
plasma cells
 FIBROBLASTS-

 Most numerous
65% of total cells
 Densely packed population
Parallel to the collagen fibres
Oriented along principal fibres
Interconnected by
desmosomes.
 Nexus type junctions.
Prominent nucleus- flat, disc shaped
Occupys 30% of cell space
Single distinct nucleolus
Clearly defined nuclear pores
Spindles / flat disks
 Long ovoid nuclei, numerous
 Cytoplasmic processes
Mitochondria – numerous, well
distributed
Lysosomes – large , membrane
bound vesicles
 CEMENTOBLASTS & CLASTS -

 Only observed during phases

of active cementum deposition
 Oval to cuboidal shape
 Basophilic due to high %
membrane bound and free
ribosomes
 Easy to recognize, even
under the light microscope
 Cementoblasts lining the
cementum- plump cells, rich in
cytoplasm
 Squat, cuboidal cells with large
nuclei
 Structure – depends on activity
 CEMENTOBLASTS & CLASTS -
 Only observed during phases
of active cementum deposition
 Oval to cuboidal shape
 Basophilic due to high %
membrane bound and free
ribosomes
 Easy to recognize, even
under the light microscope
 Cementoblasts lining the
cementum- plump cells, rich in
cytoplasm
 Squat, cuboidal cells with large
nuclei
 Structure – depends on
activity
 OSTEOBLASTS -

Near bone surface

Form a layer of cuboidal
cells
Basophilic cytoplasm
Prominent nucleus
Numerous orgenelles
Get incorporated as
osteocytes
 OSTEOCLASTS -
 Seen adjacent to the
bone surface
 Irregular distribution
 Appear only in active
resorption / deposition
 Form a continuous layer
lining the osteoid
 Located in Howships
lacunae.
Large & multinucleated
Ruffled border,
clear/annular zone
Progenitor cells
 Other cells

Epithelial cell rests of mallasez

Mast cells
macrophages
 GROUND SUBSTANCE

They are present between cells & fibers of the PL.

They contain GAG ;hyaluronic acid & proteoglycan
& glycoproteins like fibronectin & laminin.
They control fibrillogenesis & fiber orientation.
They transport food to cells & waste products from
cells to blood vessels.
 Glycoproteins

Fibronectin; this is in filamentous form & promotes

attachment of cells to collagen fibrils.it is involved in
cell migration & orientation.
Tenascin; this glycoprotein is present adjacent to
alveolar bone & cementum.
 Interstitial tissue

Blood vessels,
lymphatics &
nerves of PL are
surrounded by
loose connective
tissue which are
called interstitial
tissue
 Structures present in the
connective tissue

Blood vessels
Lymphatics
Nerves
Cementicles
 Blood vessels

The PL has rich vascular supply from superior &

inferior alveolar arteries.
Blood vessels derived from; branches from
apical vessels branches from intraalveolar
vessels branches from gingival vessels
 BLOOD SUPPLY -

Multiple supply
Average diameter– 20υm
Glomeruli-like arterio
venous shunts
Veins- prominent beneath
JE
Circulus –Wong & Sims
1971
 Lymphatics

The lymphatic drainage is from PL to

the alveolar bone.they follow the path
of blood vessels.
 Nerve supply

Nerves pass through apical foramen to enter the

PL.
Finer branches enter middle & cervical portions of
the PL through openings in the alveolar bone
 Types of nerves

Non myelinated nerves; they are autonomic nerves

having a diameter of 0.5µm & supply blood vessels.
Myelinated nerves; they are sensory nerves having a
diameter of 5µm.the sensation of pain,pressure &
touch are felt by finer myelinated nerves &
proprioception through larger myelinated nerves.
 Free nerve endings –
 sensory
 More near cementum
 For pain perception

Ruffini type endings –

mechanoceptors
 Extraordinarily defined
pressure sensation
  Coiled meissners-
midroot region,
mechanoceptors

 Spindle-like endings –
apex, surrounded by
fibrous capsule
 Cementicles

These are small calcified bodies present in the

periodontal ligament.
They may remain free in the connective tissue or
may fuse into large calcified mass.
They may be joined with cementum to form
excementoses.
Degenerated epithelial cells form the nidus for their
calcification.
CEMENTICLES
 Functions of the PL

Physical
Formative
Nutritive
Sensory
Homeostasis
 Aging of the PL
As the aging occurs in the PL the number of cells &
their activity decreases.
Scalloping occurs in the cementum & the alveolar
bone.
There is increase in elastic fibers & decrease in
vascularity,mitotic activity.
There is decrease in width & masticatory
musculature strength.
 Clinical considerations

Width of PL varies from 0.15-0.38mm,it decreases

with age.
Gingivitis,Periodontitis.
Trauma to ligament.
Orthodontic tooth movement.
Dental granuloma.
Regeneration of PL.
GINGIVITIS,PERIODONTITIS
PERIODONTAL DISEASE
ORTHODONTIC TOOTH MOVEMENT
DENTAL GRANULOMA
PERIODONTAL REGENERATION
 GTR

Guided tissue regeneration

THANK YOU