Mixed Dentition Period.

-Begins with the eruption of the first permanent molars distal to the second deciduous molars. These are the first teeth to emerge and they initially articulate in an 'end-on' (one on top of the other) relationship.

-On occasion, the permanent incisors spread out due to spacing. In the older literature, is called by the 'ugly duckling stage.' With the eruption of the permanent canines, the spaces often will close.

-Between ages 6 and 7 years of age there are:

20 deciduous teeth

4 first permanent molars

28 permanent tooth buds in various states of development

Formation and Eruption of Deciduous Teeth.

-Calcification begins during the fourth month of fetal life. By the end of the sixth month, all of the deciduous teeth have begun calcification.

-By the time the deciduous teeth have fully erupted (two to two and one half years of age), cacification of the crowns of permanent teeth is under way. First permanent molars have begun cacification at the time of birth. -Here are some things to know about eruption patterns:

(1) Teeth tend to erupt in pairs. 

(2) Usually, lower deciduous teeth erupt first. Congenitally missing deciduous teeth is infrequent. Usually, the lower deciduous central incisors are thefirst to erupt thus initiating the deciduous dentition. The appearance of the deciduous second molars completes the deciduous dentition by 2 to 2 1/2 years of age.

- Deciduous teeth shed earlier and permanent teeth erupt earlier in girls.

- The orderly pattern of eruption and their orderly replacement by permanent teeth is important.

- order for eruption of the deciduous teeth is as follows:

(1) Central incisor.........Lower 6 ½ months,         Upper 7 ½ months

(2) Lateral incisor.........Lower 7 months,   Upper 8 months

(3) First deciduous molar...Lower 12-16 months, Upper 12-16 months

(4) Deciduous canine........Lower 16-20 months, Upper 16-20 months

(5) Second deciduous molar..Lower 20-30 months, Upper 20-30 months

Amelogenesis and Enamel

Enamel is highly mineralized: 85% hydroxyapatite crystals
Enamel formation is a two-step process
The first step produces partially mineralized enamel: 30% (secretory)
The second step: Influx of minerals, removal of water and organic matrix (maturative)
Again, dentin is the prerequisite of enamel formation (reciprocal induction)
Stratum intermedium: high alkaline phosphatase activity
Differentiation of ameloblasts: Increase in glycogen contents

Formation of the enamel matrix
Enamel proteins, enzymes, metalloproteinases, phosphatases, etc.
Enamel proteins: amelogenins (90%), enamelin, tuftelin, and amelin
Amelogenins: bulk of organic matrix
Tuftelin: secreted at the early stages of amelogenesis (area of the DE junction)
Enamelin: binds to mineral
Amelin

Mineralization of enamel
 No matrix vesicles
Immediate formation of crystallites
Intermingling of enamel crystallites with dentin
"Soft" enamel is formed

Histologic changes

Differentiation of inner enamel epithelium cells. They become ameloblasts
Tomes' processes: saw-toothed appearance
Collapse of dental organ
Formation of the reduced enamel epithelium

Hard tissue formation (Amelogenesis )

Enamel formation is called amelogenesis and occurs in the crown stage of tooth development. "Reciprocal induction" governs the relationship between the formation of dentin and enamel; dentin formation must always occur before enamel formation. Generally, enamel formation occurs in two stages: the secretory and maturation stages. Proteins and an organic matrix form a partially mineralized enamel in the secretory stage; the maturation stage completes enamel mineralization.

In the secretory stage, ameloblasts release enamel proteins that contribute to the enamel matrix, which is then partially mineralized by the enzyme alkaline phosphatase. The appearance of this mineralized tissue, which occurs usually around the third or fourth month of pregnancy, marks the first appearance of enamel in the body. Ameloblasts deposit enamel at the location of what become cusps of teeth alongside dentin. Enamel formation then continues outward, away from the center of the tooth.

In the maturation stage, the ameloblasts transport some of the substances used in enamel formation out of the enamel. Thus, the function of ameloblasts changes from enamel production, as occurs in the secretory stage, to transportation of substances. Most of the materials transported by ameloblasts in this stage are proteins used to complete mineralization. The important proteins involved are amelogenins, ameloblastins, enamelins, and tuftelins. By the end of this stage, the enamel has completed its mineralization.

CEMENTUM vs. BONE

Cementum simulates bone
1) Organic fibrous framework, ground substance, crystal type, development
2) Lacunae
3) Canaliculi
4) Cellular components
5) Incremental lines (also known as "resting" lines; they are produced by continuous but phasic, deposition of cementum)

Differences between cementum and bone
1) Cementum is not vascularized
2) Cementum has minor ability to remodel
3) Cementum is more resistant to resorption compared to bone
4) Cementum lacks neural component
5) Cementum contains a unique proteoglycan interfibrillar substance
6) 70% of bone is made by inorganic salts (cementum only 46%)

Relation of Cementum to Enamel at the Cementoenamel Junction (CEJ)

"OMG rule"

In 60% of the teeth cementum Overlaps enamel
In 30% of the teeth cementum just Meets enamel
In 10% of the teeth there is a small Gap between cementum and enamel

Deciduous dentition period.

-The deciduous teeth start to erupt at the age of six months and the deciduous dentition is complete by the age of approximately two and one half years of age.

-The jaws continue to increase in size at all points until about age one year.

-After this, growth of the arches is lengthening of the arches at their posterior (distal) ends. Also, there is slightly more forward growth of the mandible than the maxilla.

1. Many early developmental events take place.

-The tooth buds anticipate the ultimate occlusal pattern.

-Mandibular teeth tend to erupt first. The pattern for the deciduous incisors is usually in this distinctive order:

(1) mandibular central

(2) maxillary central incisors

(3) then all four lateral incisors.

-By one year, the deciduous molars begin to erupt.

-The eruption pattern for the deciduous dentition as a whole is:

(1) central incisor

(2) lateral incisor

(3) deciduous first molar

(4) then the canine

(5) then finally the second molar.

-Eruption times can be variable.

2. Occlusal changes in the deciduous dentition.

-The overjet tends to diminish with age. Wear and mandibular growth are a factor in this process.

-The overbite often diminishes with the teeth being worn to a flat plane occlusion.

-Spacing of the incisors in anticipation of the soon-to-erupt permanent incisors appears late. Permanent anterior teeth (incisors and canines) are wider mesiodistally than deciduous anterior teeth. In contrast, the deciduous molar are wider mesiodistally that the premolars that later replace them.

-Primate spaces occur in about 50% of children. They appear in the deciduous dentition. The spaces appear between the upper lateral incisor and the upper canine. They also appear between the lower canine and the deciduous first molar.

Dentin

1. Composition

a. Inorganic (70%)—calcium hydroxyapatite crystals.

b. Organic (30%)—water and type I collagen.

2. Types of dentin

a. Primary dentin

(1) Dentin formed during tooth development, before completion of root formation.

It constitutes the majority of dentin found in a tooth.

(2) It consists of a normal organization of dentinal tubules.

(3) Circumpulpal dentin

(a) The layer of primary dentin that surrounds the pulp chamber.  It is formed after the mantle dentin.

(b) Its collagen fibers are parallel to the DEJ.

b. Secondary dentin

(1) Dentin formed after root formation is complete.

(2) Is deposited unevenly around the pulp chamber, forming along the layer of dentin closest to the pulp.

It therefore contributes to the decrease in the size of the pulp chamber as one ages.

(3) It consists of a normal, or slightly less regular, organization of dentinal tubules. However,

as compared to primary dentin, it is deposited at a slower rate.

(4) Although the dentinal tubules in secondary dentin can be continuous with those in primary

dentin, there is usually a tubular angle change between the two layers.

c. Tertiary (reparative, reactive) dentin

(1) Dentin that is formed in localized areas in response to trauma or other stimuli such as caries, tooth wear, or dental work.

(2) Its consistency and organization vary. It has no defined dentinal tubule pattern

d. Mantle dentin
 

(1) The outermost layer of dentin
(2) Is the first layer of dentin laid down by odontoblasts adjacent to the DEJ.

(3) Is slightly less mineralized than primary dentin.

(4) Has collagen fibers that are perpendicular to the DEJ.

(5) Dentinal tubules branch abundantly in this area.

e. Sclerotic (transparent) dentin

(1) Describes dentinal tubules that have become occluded with calcified material .

(2) Occurs when the odontoblastic processes retreat, filling the dentinal tubule with calcium phosphate crystals.

(3) Occurs with aging.

f. Dead tracts

(1) When odontoblasts die, they leave behind empty dentinal tubules, or dead tracts.

(2) Occurs with aging or trauma.

(3) Empty tubules are potential paths for bacterial invasion.

3. Structural characteristics and microscopic features:
 

a. Dentinal tubules

(1) Tubules extend from the DEJ to the pulp chamber.

(2) The tubules taper peripherally (i.e., their diameters are wider as they get closer to the pulp). Since the tubules are distanced farther apart at the periphery, the density of tubules is greater closer to the pulp.

(3) Each tubule contains an odontoblastic process or Tomes’ fiber.

Odontoblastic processes are characterized by the presence of a network of microtubules, with

Occasional mitochondria and vesicles present.

Note: the odontoblast’s cell body remains in the pulp chamber.
 

(4) Coronal tubules follow an S-shaped path, which may result from the crowding of  odontoblasts as they migrate toward the pulp during dentin formation.

b. Peritubular dentin (intratubular dentin)

(1) Is deposited on the walls of the dentinal tubule, which affects (i.e., narrows)the diameter of the tubule .

(2) It differs from intertubular dentin by lacking a collagenous fibrous matrix. It is also more mineralized than intertubular dentin.
 

c. Intertubular dentin

(1) The main part of dentin, which fills the space between dentinal tubules

 (2) Is mineralized and contains a collagenous matrix.

d. Interglobular dentin

(1) Areas of hypomineralized or unmineralized dentin caused by the failure of globules or calcospherites to fuse uniformly with mature dentin.

(2) Dentinal tubules are left undisturbed as they pass through interglobular dentin; however,

No peritubular dentin is present.

(3) Interglobular dentin is found in the:

(a) Crown—just beneath the mantle dentin.

(b) Root—beneath the dentinocemental junction, giving the root the appearance of a granular

layer (of Tomes).

e. Incremental lines

(1) Dentin is deposited at a daily rate of approximately 4 microns.

(2) As dentin is laid down, small differences in collagen fiber orientation result in the formation of incremental lines.

(3) Called imbrication lines of von Ebner.

(a) Every 5 days, or about every 20 µm, the changes in collagen fiber orientation appear more

accentuated. This results in a darker staining line, known as the imbrication line of von

Ebner.

(b) These lines are similar to the lines of Retzius seen in enamel.

f. Contour lines of Owen

(1) An optical phenomenon that occurs when the secondary curvatures of adjacent dentinal tubules coincide, resulting in the appearance of lines known as contour lines of Owen.
 

(2) Contour lines of Owen may also refer to lines that appear similar to those just described; however, these lines result from disturbances in mineralization.

g. Granular layer of Tomes

(1) A granular or spotty-appearing band that can be observed on the root surface adjacent to the dentinocemental junction, just beneath the cementum.