📖 Dental Anatomy
Differences Between the Deciduous and Permanent Teeth
Dental AnatomyDifferences Between the Deciduous and Permanent Teeth
1. Deciduous teeth are fewer in number and smaller in size but the deciduous molars are wider mesiodistally than the premolars. The deciduous anteriors are narrower mesiodistally than their permanent successors. Remember the leeway space that we discussed in the unit on occlusion?
2. Their enamel is thinner and whiter in appearance. Side by side, this is obvious in most young patients.
3. The crowns are rounded. The deciduous teeth are constricted at the neck (cervix).
4. The roots of deciduous anterior teeth are longer and narrower than the roots of their permanent successors.
5. The roots of deciduous molars are longer and more slender than the roots of the permanent molars. Also, they flare greatly.
6. The cervical ridges of enamel seen on deciduous teeth are more prominent than on the permanent teeth. This 'bulge' is very pronounced at the mesiobuccal of deciduous first molars.
G. Deciduous cervical enamel rods incline incisally/occlusally.
FORMATION OF THE PERMANENT DENTITION
Dental AnatomyFORMATION OF THE PERMANENT DENTITION
Twenty deciduous tooth buds are formed initially.
Proliferative activity of the dental lamina during the bell stage that leads to formation of permanent tooth buds (cap stage) lingual of each deciduous tooth germ.
Molars have no predecessors; they are formed by posterior proliferation of the dental lamina.
HARD TISSUE FORMATION
Hard tissue formation starts at the late stages of the bell stage.
Differentiatioin of cells into odontoblasts and ameloblasts.
The cells of the inner dental epithelium will become ameloblasts.
The cells of the dental papilla opposite to the inner dental epithelium will become odontoblasts.
Dentin is formed before enamel.
Dentin initiates the formation of enamel.
ROOT FORMATION
The root of the tooth is composed by dentin and cementum.
Dentinogenesis is initiated by the odontoblasts.
Odontoblasts are formed as epithelial cells continue to proliferate from the cervical loop as a double layer of cells known as Hertwig's root sheath.
TOOTH SHAPE
The shape of the crowns results from the interaction of inner dental epithelium and the dental papilla.
The cells of the inner dental epithelium have a programmed proliferation.
This internal program determines the tooth form.
The fate of the dental lamina
Rests of Serres
The rest of Serres are rests of the dental lamina identified in the gingival soft tissues.
They are round to ovoid aggregates of epithelial cells that have clear cytoplasm (glucogen rich).
They result from early breakup of the dental lamina during bell stage.
Rests of Malassez
The rests of Malassez result from breakup of the Hertwig's root sheath during root formation.
They can be identified in the periodontal ligament and are responsible for the development of radicular cysts.
Tooth eruption Theories
Dental AnatomyTooth eruption Theories
Tooth eruption occurs when the teeth enter the mouth and become visible. Although researchers agree that tooth eruption is a complex process, there is little agreement on the identity of the mechanism that controls eruption. Some commonly held theories that have been disproven over time include: (1) the tooth is pushed upward into the mouth by the growth of the tooth's root, (2) the tooth is pushed upward by the growth of the bone around the tooth, (3) the tooth is pushed upward by vascular pressure, and (4) the tooth is pushed upward by the cushioned hammock. The cushioned hammock theory, first proposed by Harry Sicher, was taught widely from the 1930s to the 1950s. This theory postulated that a ligament below a tooth, which Sicher observed on under a microscope on a histologic slide, was responsible for eruption. Later, the "ligament" Sicher observed was determined to be merely an artifact created in the process of preparing the slide.
The most widely held current theory is that while several forces might be involved in eruption, the periodontal ligaments provide the main impetus for the process. Theorists hypothesize that the periodontal ligaments promote eruption through the shrinking and cross-linking of their collagen fibers and the contraction of their fibroblasts.
Although tooth eruption occurs at different times for different people, a general eruption timeline exists. Typically, humans have 20 primary (baby) teeth and 32 permanent teeth. Tooth eruption has three stages. The first, known as deciduous dentition stage, occurs when only primary teeth are visible. Once the first permanent tooth erupts into the mouth, the teeth are in the mixed (or transitional) dentition. After the last primary tooth falls out of the mouth—a process known as exfoliation—the teeth are in the permanent dentition.
Primary dentition starts on the arrival of the mandibular central incisors, usually at eight months, and lasts until the first permanent molars appear in the mouth, usually at six years. The primary teeth typically erupt in the following order: (1) central incisor, (2) lateral incisor, (3) first molar, (4) canine, and (5) second molar. As a general rule, four teeth erupt for every six months of life, mandibular teeth erupt before maxillary teeth, and teeth erupt sooner in females than males. During primary dentition, the tooth buds of permanent teeth develop below the primary teeth, close to the palate or tongue.
Mixed dentition starts when the first permanent molar appears in the mouth, usually at six years, and lasts until the last primary tooth is lost, usually at eleven or twelve years. Permanent teeth in the maxilla erupt in a different order from permanent teeth on the mandible. Maxillary teeth erupt in the following order: (1) first molar (2) central incisor, (3) lateral incisor, (4) first premolar, (5) second premolar, (6) canine, (7) second molar, and (8) third molar. Mandibular teeth erupt in the following order: (1) first molar (2) central incisor, (3) lateral incisor, (4) canine, (5) first premolar, (6) second premolar, (7) second molar, and (8) third molar. Since there are no premolars in the primary dentition, the primary molars are replaced by permanent premolars. If any primary teeth are lost before permanent teeth are ready to replace them, some posterior teeth may drift forward and cause space to be lost in the mouth. This may cause crowding and/or misplacement once the permanent teeth erupt, which is usually referred to as malocclusion. Orthodontics may be required in such circumstances for an individual to achieve a straight set of teeth.
The permanent dentition begins when the last primary tooth is lost, usually at 11 to 12 years, and lasts for the rest of a person's life or until all of the teeth are lost (edentulism). During this stage, third molars (also called "wisdom teeth") are frequently extracted because of decay, pain or impactions. The main reasons for tooth loss are decay or periodontal disease.
Dentin
Dental Anatomy
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.