The tooth and its periodontium

1 The tooth and its periodontium



THE TOOTH


Some fundamental points on the teeth of small animals are outlined as follows:


• The basic anatomy resembles that of man

• There are differences in the number of teeth

• There are differences in the shape of teeth:
• The crowns are more tapered

• There are sharp cutting surfaces

• There are fewer chewing surfaces

• There are differences in spacing:
• Teeth are further apart

• Any contact points are small and not as tight.

Tooth consists of:


• Crown – generally above the gum line

• Root(s) – generally below the gum line

• Enamel

• Dentine

• Cementum

• Pulp (endodontic system).

Figure 1.1 depicts the basic structure of a tooth and its periodontium.


image

Figure 1.1 Basic anatomy of the tooth and periodontium.


From Gorrel C (2004): Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner, with permission of Elsevier.






Enamel:


• Thin layer as compared to man

• Hardest and most mineralized tissue in the body

• Inorganic content amounts to 96–97% of weight

• Has no nerve or blood supply

• Has no reparative or regenerative capacity.


Dentine:


• Comprises the bulk of the mature tooth

• Inorganic content amounts to 70% of wet weight

• Tubular structure

• Slow continuous deposition of dentine throughout life (secondary dentine)

• Rapid deposition in response to trauma (reparative/tertiary dentine).


Cementum:


• Avascular bone-like tissue

• Less calcified than enamel or dentine

• Slow continuous deposition throughout life

• Capable of resorptive and reparative processes.


Pulp:


• Composed of connective tissue

• Lined by odontoblasts

• Pulp chamber = pulp tissue contained in the crown

• Root canal(s) = section of root containing pulp tissue

• Root apex = where the root canal opens into the periapical tissues:
• Single, wide opening in the immature tooth

• Numerous foramina in the mature tooth.


THE PERIODONTIUM


The periodontium is an anatomical unit, which functions to attach the tooth to the jaw and provide a suspensory apparatus resilient to normal functional forces.


Periodontium consists of:


• Gingiva

• Periodontal ligament

• Cementum

• Alveolar bone.





Gingiva:


• Forms a cuff around each tooth:
• Free gingiva

• Attached gingiva

• Margin of free gingiva forms invagination between tooth and gingiva = sulcus

• Normal sulcus depth is 1–3 mm in dogs and 0.5–1 mm in cats.

Figures 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 depict the basic structures of the gingiva and gingival sulcus.


image

Figure 1.2 The visible landmarks of clinically normal gingiva. MGJ = mucogingival junction or line; AM = alveolar mucosa; AG = attached gingiva; FG = free gingiva; IP = interdental papilla.


From Gorrel C (2004): Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner, with permission of Elsevier.

Related posts:

  1. Chronic gingivostomatitis with extraction leading to partial cure
  2. Tooth shortening and endodontic therapy
  3. Chronic gingivostomatitis as a consequence of periodontitis and iatrogenic injuries
  4. Enamel dysplasia

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Sep 3, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on The tooth and its periodontium

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