What surrounds the teeth and keeps them in place is more than just the delicate pink flesh we call our gums. As a group, all these structures are called the periodontium. The treatment of gums and their diseases is called periodontics.

Periodontal ligament. The periodontal ligament is composed of bundles of connective tissue fibers that anchor the teeth within the jaws. One end of each bundle is attached to the cementum covering the root of the tooth. The other end is embedded in the bony tooth socket (called the alveolar socket). These bundles of fibers allow the tooth to withstand the forces of biting and chewing.

Alveolar process and socket. If you were to look at a skull that is missing teeth, you would see that the jaws are not just flat planes of bone. Within the bone are small craters that mark where the teeth had been. These craters are the alveolar sockets. The walls of the craters are called the alveolar processes. As teeth erupt through the gums, the alveolar processes develop around the teeth to help support them.

Gingiva. The gingiva is the pink flesh we call our gums. It lies over the bones of the jaw and hugs the tooth tightly at its neck. The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. At this stage, gums can become red, inflamed and bleed easily. The later stages, when bone loss and possibly tooth loss can occur, are known as periodontitis.