Periodontal Ligament: RIC. Dental Students Batch 1

Periodontal Ligament
Made by:
RIC. Dental Students
Batch 1
PDL
 Fibrous connective tissue

between the cementum
and the alveolar bone.
 0.15 to 0.38 mm thick and
the middle third of the root
form the thinnest region
(hourglass shaped).
 Decreases with age.
ACF
HF
OF
APF
Development of PDL
 The PDL originates from the dental follicle.

 Innermost and outermost cells differentiate into
cementoblasts and osteoblasts.

 Centrally located cells differentiate into fibroblasts.
 The Gingivodental fiber groups appear apical to the
cementoenamel junction.
 The transseptal and alveolar crest fibers develop when
the tooth emerges into the oral cavity.
 Maturation and thickening of PDL fiber bundles
occurs as the teeth reaches functional occlusion.

Development of the periodontal ligament
The development of principal fiber groups

in the PDL.
The group of alveolar crest fibers first
forming in A, are initially oblique (B), then
horizontal (C), and then oblique again (D).
Functions of PDL
 Supportive:
◦ Support the teeth in their sockets and withstand the

considerable forces of mastication.
 Sensory:
◦ Transmit tactile ,pressure and pain sensations by the

trigeminal pathways.
 Nutritive:
◦ Blood vessels provide the essential nutrients for the

ligament, cementum and alveolar bone.
Cells of PDL
1. Connective tissue cells
2. Defense cells – (macrophages)
3. Epithelial cells
4. Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells

1.Connective tissue cells:
 Osteoblasts
 - located on the surface of alveolar
bone
- produces the organic matrix of
the bone
- new bone formation takes place by
continuous bone turn over
 Osteoclasts
- function in bone resorption during
both tooth movement and
periodontal disease.
- originate from monocyte and form
multinucleated cells seen in lacunae
1.Connective tissue cells cont.:
 Cementoblasts
- appears along the surface of the
cementum
- new cementoblasts plays a role
in repair of resorbed cementum
 Fibroblasts
- principal cells of PDL and the
predominant cells of connective
tissue.
- formation and maintenance of
connective tissue.
- responsible for high turn over of
PDL
2. Macrophages
- defense cells of PDL
- phagocytic function
3. Epithelial cells
- remnants of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath
- known as epithelial cell rests of Malassez
- forms an epithelial lined cyst during infection
- maintenance and regeneration of PDL tissues
4. Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells
- perivascular location
- produce new cells for PDL
Epithelial rests of Malassez Cementum
Fibroblasts
Dentin
PDL
Cementoblasts
osteoblasts
Pulp
Follicle Cells
Odontoblasts
Alveolar
Bone Hertwig’s Epithelial
Root Sheath
Epithelial cell rests of Malassez
Periodontal connective tissue

Ground substance
 Forms the extracellular compartment of PDL.

 Contains proteins and polysaccharides.
 Diffusion of gases and metabolic substances.
 Permits the tooth to withstand stress.
 Increase in tissue fluids during injury or inflammation.
Periodontal ligament space
 Space between the alveolar bone and cementum is about
0.2mm in width.
 Consists of unorganized connective tissue with short fiber
bundles extending from bone and cemental surfaces.

 Periodontal ligament mesenchymal cells secrete type(I)
collagen extending from the bone and cemental surfaces and
establish continuity across the ligament space.

Fibers of periodontal ligament
 Principle (Collagen) fibers
 Elastic fibers (Oxytalan mainly)

Collagen fibers of PDL
The principal fiber bundles of PDL consist of :
1) The alveolar crest group
- attached to cementum just below CEJ running

downward and outward to insert into the alveolar crest.
- prevent extrusion and lateral tooth movements.
2) The horizontal group
- lies just apical to alveolar crest group running at right

angles to the long axis of the tooth from cementum to
bone.
3) The oblique group
- runs from the cementum in an
oblique direction to insert
into bone coronally.
- Found numerous in PDL.
4) The apical group
- radiates from the cementum
into the bone, forming the
base of the socket
5) The interradicular group
- they run from the cementum
into the bone, forming the
crest of the interradicular
septum.
6)Transseptal group: -
Extends interproximally over alveolar
bone crest and are embedded in the
cementum of adjacent teeth - They are
reconstructed even after destruction of the
alveolar bone has occurred in the
periodontal disease and are responsible for
returning teeth to their original state after
orthodontic therapy
Sharpey’s fibers
 Principle collagen fibers embedded in cementum and

bone.
 Fully mineralized in primary acellular cementum.
 Only partially mineralized at their periphery in cellular
cementum and bone.
 Occasionally, pass through the alveolar bone or mingle
buccally and lingually with the periosteal fibers.
 Fibers are at right angles or oblique to the alveolar bone
surface and along the root of the tooth.
Cementum
Bone
Interstitial space
 Space between each group of

principal fibers
 Contains blood vessels,
nerves ,lymphatics and
maintains the vitality of the PDL
 Provides support for the PDL by
the dense collagen
fibers
 Withstand the impact of
masticatory forces.
Bone
Collagen
Periodontal ligament
Oxytalan
Cementum
Oxytalan Fibers
Dentin
BLOOD SUPPLY
Blood supply
1. Superior and inferior alveolar arteries

◦ The superior and inferior alveolar arteries take an intraosteal
course and gives off alveolar branches, ascending within the
bone as interalveolar arteries.
◦ Numerous branches arise from interalveolar vessels, runs

horizontally, penetrates the alveolar bone and enter the PDL
space. Hence called as perforating arteries
2. Facial artery from the external carotid artery

 Venous drainage - by axially directed vessels and drain
into a network system in the apical portion of ligaments
Corrosion cast demonstrating the extensive vasculature of the periodontal ligament. Many
transverse connections and the thickened venous network at the apex are visible.
Nerve Supply
- THE PERIODONTIUM RECEIVES BOTH
AUTONOMIC AND SENSORY INNERVATIONS -
AUTONOMIC NERVES ARE SYMPATHETIC
ARISING FROM THE SUPERIOR CERVICAL
GANGLION AND TERMINATING IN THE SMOOTH
MUSCLES OF THE PERIODONTAL ARTERIOLES -
SENSORY NERVES THAT SUPPLY THE
PERIODONTIUM ARISE FROM MAXILLARY AND

Nerve Supply
The 4 types of nerve endings found in periodotal
ligaments are:
1) Tree-like endings.
2) Ruffini’s endings.
3) Coiled endings.
4) Spindle-like endings.
1.First type
o Ramify in a tree like
configuration and runs
along the length of the
root.
 Originate from
unmyelinated fibers
and carry a Schwann
cell envelope with
processes projecting
into surrounding
connective tissue.
 The nerve endings act
as nociceptors and
mechanoreceptors.
Free endings with treelike ramifications

2. Second type
o Found around the root apex and
resembles Ruffini’s corpuscles.
o They appear as dendritic and ends

in PDL fibers and have a schwann
cell envelope
o They are further subdivided into

simple forms consisting of a single
neurite and compound forms
consisting of several terminations.
o The receptors acts as

mechanoreceptors.
Ruffini’s ending
3. Third type
Coiled form found in

the mid-region of PDL .
Function and
ultrastructure have
not been determined
yet.
Coiled ending
4. Fourth type
 Associated with the root apex

and consists of spindle like
endings surrounded by a fibrous

capsule.
 It has the lowest frequency in

terms of occurrence
Encapsulated spindle-type ending.

Nerve terminals in a human periodontal ligament
Adaptation to functional demand
 The cells within the PDL secrete molecules that

regulates the mineralization and prevents ankylosis of
the tooth.
 When the functional demand increases, the width of
PDL increase as much as 50% and the fiber bundles
increase in thickness.
 Conversely, a reduction in function leads to narrowing
of the ligament and decrease in number and thickness of
fiber bundles.
Remodelling of PDL
 Remodelling is achieved by fibroblasts which synthesize

the collagen fibers.
 The rapid turn over of collagen takes place throughout the
whole thickness of ligament and not restricted to the
metabolically active middle zone (intermediate plexus).
 The turn over takes place in an apicocervical direction
where the highest is in the apical region and the lowest in
the cervical region of the ligament.
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Periodontal Ligament

 Fibrous connective tissue

 The PDL originates from the dental follicle.

cementoblasts and osteoblasts.

occurs as the teeth reaches functional occlusion.

The development of principal fiber groups

◦ Support the teeth in their sockets and withstand the

◦ Transmit tactile ,pressure and pain sensations by the

◦ Blood vessels provide the essential nutrients for the

1. Connective tissue cells

2. Defense cells – (macrophages)

4. Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells

Periodontal connective tissue

 Forms the extracellular compartment of PDL.

 Space between the alveolar bone and cementum is about

bundles extending from bone and cemental surfaces.

collagen extending from the bone and cemental surfaces and

establish continuity across the ligament space.

 Principle (Collagen) fibers

 Elastic fibers (Oxytalan mainly)

The principal fiber bundles of PDL consist of :

1) The alveolar crest group

- attached to cementum just below CEJ running

- prevent extrusion and lateral tooth movements.

2) The horizontal group

- lies just apical to alveolar crest group running at right

 Principle collagen fibers embedded in cementum and

 Space between each group of

1. Superior and inferior alveolar arteries

◦ Numerous branches arise from interalveolar vessels, runs

2. Facial artery from the external carotid artery

- THE PERIODONTIUM RECEIVES BOTH

AUTONOMIC AND SENSORY INNERVATIONS -

AUTONOMIC NERVES ARE SYMPATHETIC

ARISING FROM THE SUPERIOR CERVICAL

GANGLION AND TERMINATING IN THE SMOOTH

MUSCLES OF THE PERIODONTAL ARTERIOLES -

SENSORY NERVES THAT SUPPLY THE

PERIODONTIUM ARISE FROM MAXILLARY AND

The 4 types of nerve endings found in periodotal

Free endings with treelike ramifications

o They appear as dendritic and ends

o They are further subdivided into

o The receptors acts as

Coiled form found in

 Associated with the root apex

endings surrounded by a fibrous

 It has the lowest frequency in

Encapsulated spindle-type ending.

 The cells within the PDL secrete molecules that

 Remodelling is achieved by fibroblasts which synthesize

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