PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT

CONTENTS

► Introduction
► Cells
► Fibers
► Development
► Biochemistry
► Functions
 PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT

► Functional unit of tissues that surrounds the teeth

► It is composed of complex vascular and highly cellular
connective tissue that surrounds the tooth root and connects
it to the inner wall of alveolar bone
► PDL space diminished in unerupted teeth and teeth that are
not in function, increased in hyper function
► Thickness .15mm-.38mm, thinnest in middle portion.
► Hour glass shape
► Tissue with high turnover rate
 DEVELOPMENT OF PDL

► After beginning of root formation, formation of outer

dentinal layer of root, PDL is formed
► Formation of hertwigs epithelial root sheath
► The root sheath is stretched and fragments to form cluster
of cells called epithelial cell rests of malassez
► The enamel organ and root sheath are surrounded by
dental follicle that is formed by condensed cells
► The cells of dental follicle divide and differentiate into
cementoblasts, fibroblasts, osteoblasts
1. Hertwigs root sheath
2. Epithelial cell rests
3. Dental follicle
4. Cementoblasts
5. Periodontal ligament
6. Alveolar cells
7. Bone
8. odontoblasts
► Fibroblasts synthesize fibers and ground substance that
become the periodontal ligament
► The fibers embed themselves into cementum laid down by
cementoblasts and bone laid down by osteoblasts
► When tooth erupts into oral cavity, these fibers become
oriented in a particular fashion
► As the crown approaches the oral mucosa during eruption,
fibroblasts become active and produce collagen fibrils
► The first collagen bundles appear apical to CEJ and give
rise to gingivodental fiber groups
► As the tooth eruption progresses, additional oblique fibers
appear and get attached to cementum and bone
► The transeptal fibers and alveolar crest fibers develop
when tooth merges into oral cavity
 STRUCTURE OF PDL

► Periodontal ligament is formed of cells and fibers

CELLS:
1. SYNTHETIC- fibroblasts, osteoblasts ,cementoblasts
2. RESORPTIVE- fibroblasts, osteoclasts, cementoclasts
3. PROGENITOR- undifferentiated mesenchymal cells
4. DEFENSIVE- macrophage, lymphocytes, mast cells
5. EPITHELIAL CELLS – remnants of root sheath
 FIBROBLASTS

► Principal cells, lies between collagen fibers

► Flattened irregular disc shaped, prominent nucleus
► Contains numerous organelles associated with protein
synthesis and degradation
► cells have a number of intercellular contacts
► They produce extracellular matrix of PDL
► Degradation of collagen occurs intracellularly and
extracellularly
► Cells are responsible for connective tissue morphogenesis,
generating force of eruption by contraction.
 CEMENTOBLASTS

► Ovoid to cubical shape, basophilic cytoplasm

► responsible for secretion of organic matrix of cementum
► When active, appear as a distinct layer on root surface

OSTEOBLASTS

► Osteoblasts are found on surface on alveolar bone

► When active, form a layer of cuboidal cells
► As bone deposition proceeds, osteoblasts become incorporated in matrix as osteocytes
 CEMENTOBLASTS
EPITHELIAL CELL RESTS
 OSTEOCLASTS

► They are found within resorption lacunae

► Large and multinucleated
► They have ruffled border enclosed by clear zone

EPITHELIAL CELL RESTS OF MALASSEZ

► Remnants of hertwigs epithelial root sheath
► They have close packing of cuboidal cells, completely
surrounded by connective tissue cells
► After disruption of root sheath, they are found in groups of
one or two cells with partial basal lamina
► Cell rests appear as separate, duct like cluster of cells or
network of interconnecting strands
► Less numerous in older individuals, more in children
► They have high nuclear cytoplasmic ratio
► Upto second decade, found in apical region, later it is seen
cervically in the gingiva
► They have a role in limiting resorption, maintanence of
periodontal space

UNDIFFERENTIATED MESENCHYMAL CELLS

► Source of new cells

► Apoptosis- selective deletion of ligament cells, allows
turnover without disruption of tissue
 DEFENSE CELLS

MACROPHAGE
► defensive cell, phagocytic, mobile

LEUCOCYTE
► Appear when stressed by disease

MAST CELLS
► Defensive against pathogens
 PRINCIPAL FIBERS OF PDL

A.TRANSEPTAL
B.ALVEOLAR CREST
C.HORIZONTAL
D.OBLIQUE
E.APICAL
F.INTERRADICULAR
GINGIVAL FIBERS OF PDL

► A.CIRCULAR
► B.DENTOGINGIVAL
► C.DENTOPERIOSTAL
► D.ALVEOLOGINGIVAL
 COLLAGEN FIBERS OF PDL

► Collagen of PDL is largely type 1, with lesser amounts of

type 3, 4, 5, 6, 12
► Collagen type 6 is a short chain molecule, it is a microfibril
forming collagen that ramifies extracellular matrix
► Collagen type 4 is found in epithelial rests
► Fibers have structural requirements to withstand intrusive
forces from mastication
► Collagen fibril diameters are relatively small, with mean
diameters of 45- 55nm with unimodal distribution
► Small diameter of fibrils is due to high rate of collagen
turnover and absence of mature collagen fibrils
 ELASTIC FIBERS OF PDL

► Three fibrous components are oxytalan, elaunin,

elastin
► Oxytalan fibers form a three dimensional network
that connects cementum to blood vessels
► It is oriented in apico occlusal plane
► Oxytalan and elaunin fibers are precursors of
elastin fiber
► They are composed of microfilaments surrounded
by amorphous material
► Elastin fibers are composed of elastin.
► Elastin is composed of microfibrillar glycoprotein
A. CEMENTUM
B. OXYTALAN FIBER
C. OXYTALAN TRACT
D. PERIODONTAL
VESSEL
FUNCTIONAL ADAPTATIONS OF COLLAGEN FIBERS

► Internal orientation of fibers influence mechanical

properties of tissue
► The arrangement into horizontal and oblique groups is to
resist axial forces
► The overlapping arrangement is to resist rotational and
intrusive forces
► The complex three dimensional arrangement suggests that
some bundles will be placed in tension, this enables local
areas of PDL to resist compressive forces
 COLLAGEN CRIMPING
► Collagenous tissues exhibit a periodicity of structure ranging
from submicroscopic to anatomical, waveform that
describes this periodicity is referred to an crimp
► It is due to sharp zigzag arrangement of collagen fibrils and
due to microanatomical organisation of sheets and bundles
► It enables the ligament to absorb tensile loads without
extending collagen fibrils
SHARPEYS FIBERS
► Collagen bundles of PDL are embedded into cementum and
bone - sharpeys fibers
► These fibers are enclosed in a sheath of type 3 collagen and
is concentrated in crestal region
Sharpeys fibers
Sharpeys fibers start to form before
cementum and bone are mineralised
 FUNCTIONAL ADAPTATIONS OF ELASTIC FIBERS

► Elastic fibers are more seen in coronal one third

► Elastic fibers dampen lateral masticatory stresses,
low modulus and long range reversible extensibility
of elastin is more important than resilience as
physical property
► Oxytalan fibers have a role in stabilizing the tooth in
functional situations
► Oxytalan and collagen bundles interweave at right
angles to each other
► Oxytalan fibers act as a part of mechanoreceptor
system
 BIOCHEMISTRY OF FIBERS

► Collagen fibers are unique in their arrangement,

rapid assimilation into fibrils compared to other
connective tissues
► Minor fibers comprise oxytalan, elaunin but no
mature elastic fibers indicating a foetal like
connective tissue
► Collagen is a protein composed of aminoacids like
glycine , proline, hydroxy lysine, hydroxy proline
► Collagen biosynthesis occurs inside fibroblasts to
form tropocollagen molecules
COLLAGEN BIOSYNTHESIS
► They aggregated to form microfibrils that are packed
together to form fibrils.
► Fibrils associate to form fiber and bundle
► Oxytalan fibers are derived from microfibrillar proteins
► The biochemistry of fibers suggest that this is an unusual
connective tissue with foetal like characteristics
► This may be related to tissue function
 FUNCTIONS OF PDL

PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS
► PDL serves as a shock absorber by providing resistance to
forces
► Transmission of occlusal forces to bone
► Protection of vessels and nerves
► Attachment of teeth to bone
► Maintenance of gingival position

THEORIES REGARDING MECHANICAL FUNCTION

► Tensional theory
► Viscoelastic theory
 TENSIONAL THEORY

► Initially there is gradual

unfolding of fiber bundles before
taking up the tension
► Secondly, fiber bundles
straighten transmitting forces to
alveolar bone
► In the final phase, the
straightened fibers deliver
increasing load to the alveolar
bone which is then transmitted
to the basal bone of the jaws.
 VISCOELASTIC THEORY
► This theory consider the PDL to act as a viscoelastic
system.
► Loading of a tooth is accompanied by extracellular fluid
passing from the PDL into the vascular spaces of the
marrow through tiny holes in the wall of the alveoli.
► The rate of fluid passage is dependent upon the rate of
loading.
► A second phase occurs as the result of the fiber bundles
absorbing the slack and tightening, leading to constriction
of the vessels of the PDL.
► This constriction leads to arterial back pressure, which
replenishes the extracellular fluid.
 REMODELLING FUNCTION
► PDL serves by providing cells that are able to form as well
as resorb tissues that form the attachment apparatus
► Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells differentiate into
osteoblasts, cementoblasts, fibroblasts
► Osteoclasts are derived from macrophages

NUTRITIVE FUNCTION
► It has a nutritive function that maintains the vitality of
various cells

SENSORY FUNCTION
► Attributed to mechano receptors in PDL
► Mechanoreceptors are organised or ruffini endings
► They have a role in touch thresholds, masticatory salivary
reflex, reflexes of masticatory muscles

ROLE IN GENERATION OF ERUPTIVE FORCE

► Periodontal collagen contraction hypothesis
► Periodontal fibroblast traction hypothesis
► Vascular and tissue hydrostatic pressure hypothesis

ROLE IN PERIODONTAL WOUND HEALING

► PDL generates new fibers, prevents apical migration of
epithelium, contributes cells to restore cementum, acts as a
biological sensor to regulate its own width
Shape and structure of PDL are
adapted to its function

NORMAL JIGGLING FORCES

WIDENED PDL AFTER OCCLUSAL
ADAPTATION ADJUSTMENT