Peridontal ligament - Anatomy for Dental Medicine 3rd Edition 2020

The Sharpey fibers of the periodontal ligament pass obliquely downward from the alveolar bone and insert into the cementum of the tooth. This arrangement transforms masticatory pressures on the dental arch into tensile stresses acting on the fibers and anchored bone (pressure would otherwise lead to alveolar bone atrophy).

Many of the tough collagenous fiber bundles in the connective tissue core of the gingiva above the alveolar bone are arranged in a screwlike pat tern around the tooth further strengthening it s at tachment.