Cementum in Health and Disease

Cementum is a calcified tissue that surrounds the root portion of dentin, and it forms the attachment site for the periodontal fibres that link the tooth to the alveolar bone. It was first demonstrated by Franenkel and Raschkow (1835) and Retzius (1836). In spite of the fundamental role that cementum plays in the maintenance of the teeth, very little is known about its normal development, repair and regeneration. Considering the great variation in morphology and distribution of the various types of cementum it is reasonable to assume that their formation is induced in different ways. There is accumulating histological evidence that cementum formation is critical for appropriate maturation of the periodontium. Cementum has remained a poorly defined tissue at the cellular and molecular level. While research through the years has demonstrated that cementum is a unique tissue histologically. This book describes in detail about cementogenesis, The types, cemental junctions and associated pathologies.