Practice Test Geeks(ABP) American Board of Periodontology Practice Test
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Periodontal Anatomy Flashcards

7 cards from real ABP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Periodontal Anatomy flashcards as text

  1. Which fiber group of the periodontal ligament runs from the alveolar crest obliquely to the cementum in an apical direction?

    Answer: Oblique fibers

    Oblique fibers are the most numerous PDL fibers and run from the alveolar bone in a coronal direction to insert into cementum, resisting occlusal forces.

  2. The stippling observed on healthy attached gingiva is most closely associated with which histological feature?

    Answer: Rete peg interdigitation with connective tissue

    Gingival stippling results from interdigitation of epithelial rete pegs with connective tissue papillae, creating surface indentations visible clinically.

  3. Cementum that is deposited throughout life on the root surface in an appositional manner and contains entrapped cementoblasts is called:

    Answer: Secondary cellular cementum

    Secondary cellular (or cellular intrinsic fiber) cementum is formed after tooth eruption, contains cementocytes, and is found primarily in the apical third and furcation areas.

  4. The width of the attached gingiva is typically greatest in which region of the dentition?

    Answer: Maxillary anterior facial

    The attached gingiva is widest in the maxillary anterior facial region (average 3.5–4.5 mm) and narrowest at the mandibular first premolar buccal.

  5. Which landmark defines the base of the gingival sulcus histologically?

    Answer: Coronal extent of the junctional epithelium

    The base of the gingival sulcus is formed by the most coronal cells of the junctional epithelium, which attaches to the tooth via hemidesmosomes.

  6. In the periodontium, the transseptal fiber group is classified as part of which structure?

    Answer: Supracrestal/supraalveolar gingival fibers

    Transseptal fibers are classified as supraalveolar (gingival) fibers that run interproximally from the cementum of one tooth over the alveolar crest to the cementum of the adjacent tooth.

  7. The biologic width refers to the combined dimension of which two structures?

    Answer: Junctional epithelium and supracrestal connective tissue attachment

    Biologic width (Gargiulo et al.) averages approximately 2.04 mm and consists of the junctional epithelium (~0.97 mm) plus the supracrestal connective tissue attachment (~1.07 mm).