The hard tissue that covers the entire root surface is very thin but manages to carry out two important functions. First, it seals the surface of the root dentin and covers the ends of the open dental tubules. Second, perforating fibers of the periodontal ligament become embedded in the cementum. These fibers function as an attachment for the periodontal ligament fibers to the tooth root and aid in maintaining the tooth in its socket. This chapter discusses sealing of the root surface (Fig. 10-1), and Chapter 12 discusses the attachment fibers.

The first cementum deposited on the root’s surface is called intermediate cementum and is formed by the inner epithelial root sheath cells that formed during root dentin formation. This deposition occurs before the root sheath cell layer disintegrates (Fig. 10-2). Intermediate cementum is situated between the granular dentin layer of Tomes and the secondary cementum that is formed by the cementoblasts. These cementoblasts arise from the dental follicle (sac). The thin layer of intermediate cementum is approximately 10 μm thick. After being deposited, this layer mineralizes to a greater extent than the adjacent dentin or the cellular-acellular cementum. Under proper magnification, a thin line of radiopacity is seen covering the root.

The cellular-acellular cementum is a specialized hard tissue covering the root surfaces of teeth (see Fig. 10-2 and Fig. 10-3). The initial thin layer of this cementum is acellular and is deposited on intermediate cementum. Subsequent layers alternate between cellular and acellular. Thus cementum is deposited incrementally. Both grossly and histologically, this cementum resembles bone because it is a hard tissue with cells contained in lacunae that exhibit canaliculi (see Fig. 10-2). However, unlike bone, cementum does not contain blood vessels, nerves, or haversian or Volkmann canals, which are the nutrient canals containing blood vessels and nerves in bone (see Fig. 10-3).

Cementum is limited to the roots of teeth. In 60% of cases, cementum is formed on the cervical enamel for a short distance; in 30% it stops at the cervical line just meeting the enamel; and in 10% a small gap exists between them. This order of frequency is known as overlap, meet, and gap (OMG) (Fig. 10-4 and Table 10-1).

Intermediate cementum is a thin, noncellular, amorphous layer of hard tissue approximately 10 μm thick. It is deposited by the inner layer of the epithelial cells of the root sheath. Deposition occurs immediately before the epithelial root cells disintegrate as a sheet and migrate away from the root into the periodontal tissue (see Fig. 10-2). Most authors have used the term intermediate cementum, although some prefer cementoid layer. The latter term is confusing, because the initial layer of cementum is called cementoid, like osteoid in bone.

Intermediate cementum is the first layer of hard tissue deposited, and it seals the tubules of dentin. Because of its epithelial origin, intermediate cementum is composed of enamelin-like protein rather than collagen, which is the protein typical of cellular or secondary cementum. Intermediate cementum is completely formed before deposition of the secondary cementum begins. As an amorphous, noncellular layer, it is s/>