Root planning is done to remove cementum that has been altered in conact with:
The question is asking what the altered cementum is in contact with. The options are missing, but common distractors in such questions might be periodontal ligament, calculus, gingival crevicular fluid, or maybe bacterial biofilm. Let me think. During root planning, the goal is to remove the cementum that's contaminated with bacteria or calculus. So the altered cementum would be in contact with calculus or bacterial plaque. The correct answer is probably calculus because calculus is a hardened plaque that adheres to the tooth surface and the root. The cementum that's in contact with calculus becomes infected and needs to be removed.
Wait, let me verify. Cementum is the outer layer of the root. When calculus (tartar) forms on the root surface, it's mineralized plaque. The cementum adjacent to this calculus becomes infected and necrotic, so during root planning, both the calculus and the affected cementum are removed. The periodontal ligament is the connective tissue attaching the tooth to the bone, but the contact here is with the calculus. Gingival crevicular fluid is the fluid in the gingival sulcus, but it's not a surface that the cementum is in contact with in the same way. The bacterial biofilm (plaque) is the precursor to calculus, but once calculus forms, it's the mineralized part that's directly on the cementum.
So the correct answer would be calculus. Now, for the incorrect options: if an option was periodontal ligament, that's incorrect because the cementum adjacent to the ligament is healthy and not removed. If another option was gingival crevicular fluid, that's not a contaminating agent. Bacterial plaque is the initial problem, but once calculus forms, it's the calculus that's directly on the cementum. So the altered cementum is in contact with calculus, which is why it's removed during root planning.
The clinical pearl here is that root planning removes both calculus and infected cementum to promote healing. Students should remember that calculus is the mineralized plaque that adheres to the root, making the adjacent cementum non-viable. So the key is the contact with calculus leading to the need for removal.
**Core Concept**
Root planning is a periodontal procedure aimed at removing **calculus (tartar)** and infected **cementum** from root surfaces. Altered cementum in contact with **bacterial plaque or calculus** becomes necrotic and must be debrided to eliminate infection and promote periodontal healing.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is **calculus**. Calculus (mineralized plaque) adheres tightly to root surfaces, creating a rough substrate for bacterial colonization. Over time, this leads to **inflammation, cementum necrosis, and periodontal pocket formation**. Root planning removes both calculus and the contaminated cementum layer to smooth the root surface