CEMENTUM

Cementum
Is

a mineralized dental tissue

covering the anatomical part of the
root of the human teeth.
It begins at the A.C.J. & continues
to the apex.
It serves as a medium for the
attachment of collagen fibers that
bind the tooth to the surrounding
structures.
It is contain the greatest amount of
fluoride in all mineralized tissues.

Physical Characteristics
It

is similar to the compact bone

except, it is avascular & with no
nerve supply.
ThicknessMaximum thickness
at the apex & at the bifurcation of
the root.
ColourLight yellow.
PermeabilityIt is permeable
from the dentin side & from the
periodontal ligament side.

Chemical composition
45

- 50% inorganic
substances(hydroxyapatite).
50 - 55% organic
material(collagen type I & water)
Ground substances (protein &
polysaccharide)
Fibers of this matrix are produced
by the cementoblasts

The cementum structure

Types

of cementum:

Acellular cementum:
Absence of cementocytes cells.
Overlies the granular layer of Tomes
Predominates at the coronal half of the root.

2.

Cellular cementum:

1.
.
.

Contains cementocytes cells.

Mostly found on the apical half of the root.

Incremental lines of Salter

Separates

the cellular & acellular

cementums into layers which
indicate the periodic formation.
Intermediate cementum :
Sometimes dentin is separated from
cementum by a zone known as the
intermediate cementum layer.
This intermediate cementum does not
resemble either dentin or cementum.
Usually this layer present in the apical
two thirds of the root of posterior teeth.

Junctions of the
cementum
Cemento-dentinal

junction:
Smooth in permanent teeth &
scalloped in the deciduous teeth.
Cemento-enamel junction:
In 30% of all teethsharp line.
In 10% of the teethconsist only of
a layer of dentine without enamel &
cementum.
In 60% of the teethcementum
overlaps the cervical end of enamel
for a short distance.

Relation of cementum to enamel at

C.E.J

Function of cementum
Furnishes

a medium for the

attachment of collagen fibers of
the periodontal ligament to the
alveolar bone.
Serves as a major reparative
tissue for root surfaces damage
as fracture or resorption can be
repaired by deposition of new
cementum.

Cementogenesis
The

main product of cementoblast is

collagen, which constitutes the major
part of organic matrix.
Also cementoblasts produce the
ground substances.
Growth of cementum is a rhythmic
process, as a new layer of cementoid
is formed, the old one calcifies.
MineralizationThe minerals originate
from tissue fluids, where calcium &
phosphate ions are present.

Age changes of
cementum
Hypercementosis:

It is an abnormal thickening of the

cementum.
May affect one tooth or may be generalized
in all teeth.
May be limited to a small area of the root or
through the whole root length.
Hypercementosis in a good functioning
tooth is called cementum hypertrophy.
Hypercementosis in non functioning or
embedded tooth is called cementum
hyperplasia.

Permeability:

Decrease by age.
From the periodontal side is lost
except in the most recently formed
layer of cementum.
From the dentin side remains only in
the apical region.