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Your teeth are one of the hardest structures in our body but do you know what keeps them so firmly placed in the mouth? The supporting structures of the teeth are collectively called periodontium and they comprise both soft and hard tissues. These structures help keep the tooth in place, give it nourishment and protect it as well. They are also responsible for the sensations of touch and pressure felt by the tooth. One should know more about these structures before attempting to understand how various factors influence dental health.
Gums (also called gingiva) are basically the pink-coloured soft tissue that is visible in the mouth. They are firm and resilient, have a textured surface and form a protective covering for the bone and the cementum (outer layer of roots) of the teeth.
Alveolar process is that part of the jaw bone which forms and supports the tooth sockets. It is formed when teeth erupt into the mouth and gradually disappears after the tooth is lost. The shape and size of the alveolar process doesn't remain constant due to the constant movement of the teeth, even though minute.
Periodontal ligaments attach the root of a tooth to the bone and have many functions. Apart from supplying nutrients to the cementum, bone and gingiva through the blood vessels, they also help our teeth feel sensations. They act as 'shock-absorbers' by transmitting chewing forces to the bone. They also play a part in tooth eruption.
Cementum is the outermost layer covering the root of a tooth. It is hard as bone but is softer than enamel (outermost covering of the part of the tooth we are able to see in the mouth) and dentin (the layer below enamel). It is the only supporting structure that is a part of a tooth.
The post How are your teeth supported? appeared first on Colgate Total Blog.
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