Preclinical Paediatrics · MU Sofia

16. Composition, physiology, and functions of dental cementum.

Covers the composition of root cementum, including its water, organic and inorganic fractions and its mineral and collagen content, then its physiology and the functions it serves. A summary table compares the types of cementum by location and role, and the note describes the cemento-enamel junction and clinical points such as hypercementosis and cementicles.

Inside: 2 sections · 1 labelled picture · 1 table · 13 flashcards · 4 min

Topic 16 of 40 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Preclinical Paediatrics (Dental Medicine, Year 3). The free AceMed note covers it in 2 sections, about 488 words (4 min of reading), with 13 flashcards.

In this note

  1. COMPOSITION, PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONS OF DENTAL CEMENTUM
  2. Summary and extra points

COMPOSITION, PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONS OF DENTAL CEMENTUM

Root cementum is a hard non-vascularised and non-innervated mineralized tissues that covers the root of the tooth. Does not have ongoing remodelling like bone but continues to grow with age. It resembles bone as the cells are located in lacunae and growth in canals. Differs from bone as it has a lack of blood vessels and nerves.

Composition of Cementum

Since cementum is not a uniform connective tissue, differences in chemical constituent’s composition exists between different types of cementum In General, cementum is composed of:

  • Water (12%)
  • Organic Matrix (27%) Collagen, glycoproteins, proteoglycans
  • Inorganic Matrix (61%)
  • Minerals
  • Hydroxyapatite crystals (50%)
  • Collagens Collagen I + III
  • Glycoproteins
  • Proteoglycans

Mineral Composition

  • Generally less mineralised than root dentin and contains mainly hydroxyapatite but also calcium phosphate, sulphur, zinc, sodium, calcium ions, etc
  • AEFC (acellular extrinsic fibre cementum) is highly mineralised compared to CIFC (Cellular intrinsic fibre cementum - high fluoride content

Organic Composition

  • Mainly collagen Types I and III Glycoproteins
  • Also contains 2 major non-collagenous proteins which are bone sialoprotein and osteopontin
  • Both phosphorylated and sulphated glycoproteins and possess cell attachment properties
  • Most prominently expressed in AEFC and AAC

Physiology of Cementum

  • Has protective function of cementoblasts after resorption of root dentin and cementum
  • These cells are programmed to maintain a smooth surface
  • Loos of cementum is accompanied with loss of attachment fibres

Functions of cementum

  • Roofing function
  • Attaches the PDL
  • Protective Function
  • Adaptive Function

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