CEMENTUM (SUBSTANCIA OSSEA) MORPHOLOGIC TYPES OF

- is a calcified mesodermal tissue forming CEMENTUM:

the external covering of the anatomical
roots of teeth. Pic
- It may also be defined as a modified
bone covering the root, because it is ACELLULAR CEMENTUM
similar to compact bone.
- is a clear layer of cementum without
FUNCTIONS: cells;
lying on top of granular layers of Tomes,.
1. It serves to attach the root of the tooth - It is the first cementum forms, covers
to the alveolar bone by means of fibers of approximately cervical third or half of the
periodontal ligament. root.
2. To compensate by its growth for the
loss tooth substance due to occlusal wear. CELLULAR CEMENTUM
3. It contributes to the continuous vertical
eruption of teeth. - is a layer of cementum with cells.
4. It regulates the periodontal space (as - It forms after the tooth reaches the
bone resorbs.) occlusal plain and it is more irregular.
5. It protects the root dentin.
6. It repairs resorbed part of cementum HISTOLOGICAL ELEMENTS OF
surface, fractured roots and provides new CEMENTUM:
surface for reattachment of broken
periodontal fibers. • Cementum matrix
• Sharpey's fibers
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: • Cementocytes (cementum corpuscles)
- Cementum is light yellowish in color, • Lacuna and Canaliculi
lighter than dentin
- It is softer than enamel and dentin CEMENTUM MATRIX
- It lacks luster and has darker hue.
- It is permeable, •consists of collagen fibrils from the dental
sac used in formation of the matrix, and
CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS: cementing ground substance.

45% to 50% inorganic substance SHARPEY'S FIBERS

• Hydroxyapatite • are fibers of periodontal ligament

• Calcium embedded in the matrix of cementum
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus CEMENTOCYTES (CEMENTUM
CORPUSCLES)

50% - 55% organic substance and water • these are cementoblasts embedded in
• Collagen the cementum matrix.
• Polysaccharide • The cell bodies have variable shapes.

Radigos, Alyssah Jane

(ay:’24-'25)
• Some are round, oval or even flattened of the canaliculi which are towards the
with a diameter of 8 to 15 microns, periodontal ligament
• Usually, it is shaped like a plum stone,
•The cytoplasm is basophilic in nature, CEMENTO-DENTINAL JUNCTION

LACUNA AND CANALICULI • In the permanen teeth, the junction is

generally smooth,
•the spaces within the matrix which •However, in temporary teeth, sometimes
house the cell bodies of the cementocytes the junction is wavy or scalloped
are called the lacunae and the elongated
tiny spaces housing the processes arethe SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP OF
canaliculi. CEMENTUM AND ENAMEL:

COMPARISON OF CEMENTUM AND • In 60% - 65% of all teeth in the oral

BONE: cavity, the cementum overlaps the cervical
end of the enamel.
A. HISTOLOGICALLY • In 30%, the cervical end of the
•Both cementum and bone consist of cementum meets the cervical end of the
fibrous intercellular substance for enamel.
matrix with lacunae and canaliculi, • In 5% -10%, it represents the varieties of
•The lacunae in bone contains relationships, the most common of which
osteocytes and have uniform shapes is the failure of enamel and cementum
and sizes. to meet, exposing a part of the cervical
dentin.
B. PHYSIOLOGICALLY

•There is continuous deposition of Cementogenesis

cementum but little resorption and usually - Cementogenesis is the process of
if resorption occurs, it is usually development of cementum.
pathological and shallow. - Prior to cementum formation, root dentin
•The area of dissolution is characterized should develop and cementoblast be
by differentiated from the connective tissue
concavities (Howship's lacuna) with or cells near the developing root.
without cementoclast (osteoclast).
•In bone, continuous deposition and 2 PHASES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
resorption are normal or physiological CEMENTUM
activities.
- Formation of the uncalcified cementum
matrix known as cementoid tissue.
NUTRITION AND VITALITY OF
CEMENTUM: - Maturation phase, which involves the
transformation of cementoid into calcified
•Cementum depends on periodontal cementum.
ligament for the supply of nutrition, shown
sometimes by the direction of the majority First Phase
is the formation of cementoid tissue.

Radigos, Alyssah Jane

(ay:’24-'25)
 Excementosis
Second Phase
There is a change in the molecular is a kind of localized hyperplasia in form of
structure of the ground substance knob-like projections containing round
bodies or calcified epithelial rest of
Malassez.

Clinical Consideration - Sensitive dentin may be exposed if the

cementum does not cover the cervical part
Coronal cementum of the root or if cementum exposed by
gingival recession was removed or worn
is an anomalous which can occur on the out by mechanical means.
crowns of teeth most frequently on
cervical regions in form of spikes and (There are Cementum and Enamel does
called as cementum spur. not meet, there are exposed dentin and
can cause sensitivity. Sometimes it
(Sometimes it occurs in the occlusal overlaps, (bitin), etc.
fissure, when there is (reduction?)
reduced enamel epithelium). Mechanical means - when you try to clean
the teeth which includes the root, so the
Cementicles removal of calculus, deposits on the root
may also remove a thin layer of
are calcific bodies which occur in the cementum, does leads to the exposure of
periodontal ligament. dentin)
These bodies may be made of cementum
or calcium salts. In relation to extraction, bone may be
fractured in an attempt to extract teeth
(Some may fuse with the root or may be with hypercementosis because such is
gum embedded, degenerated dead cells.) tightly situated in the socket.

Hypercementosis (How to treat:

Surgery - open to get it, as you cannot
is the excessive formation or abnormal extract it with the bone surrounding it and
thickening of the cementum which may be may cause fraction)
diffused, circumscribed or localized.
It may affect all the teeth or single tooth In Orthodontic treatment, the continuous
only. deposition of cementum and little
resorption can place the malposed teeth
(If the overgrowth improves the function to its normal position.
and qualities of cementum, it is termed: Bone is resorbed on the side of pressure
Cementum Hypertrophy. and new bone is formed on the side of
If the overgrowth occurs in non-functional tension.
teeth or not correlated function, it is
termed Cementum Hyperplasia)

Radigos, Alyssah Jane

(ay:’24-'25)