PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT AND DENTOGINGIVAL JUNCTION

FIG 6-1

Periodontal ligament

Periodontal ligament (PDL). Cellular cementum (CC) is to the left and alveolar bone (B) to the right. A large blood vessel (BV) is visible near the bone (H and Lee stain; ×160).

FIG 6-2

Periodontal ligament

An interstitial space (IS) containing blood vessels is located near a canal in alveolar bone (arrow) through which vessels enter the ligament (H and Lee stain; ×400).

FIG 6-3

Periodontal ligament

Higher magnification of periodontal ligament. Fibroblasts (F) are the predominent cell type (H and Lee stain; ×400).

FIG 6-4

Periodontal ligament– dentoperiosteal fibers

Periodontal ligament at the alveolar crest of the tooth. Between the alveolar bone (B) forming the alveolar crest and the root dentin (D) is a large blood vessel (BV). Arrow indicates dentoperiosteal fibers (H and Lee stain; ×64).

FIG 6-5

Periodontal ligament– transverse fibers

High magnification of the transverse fibers of the periodontal ligament at the cervix of a tooth (H and E stain; ×400)

FIG 6-6

Periodontal ligament– oblique fibers

Periodontal ligament in the mid-root region of a tooth. Arrow indicates the direction of the oblique fibers of the ligament in this region (H and E stain; ×160).