The dentin structure of non-erupted human deciduous mandibular and maxillary central and lateral incisor teeth was studied employing light and scanning electron microscopy. For light microscopy, nitric-acid-demineralized and ground sections were used. The sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin, picrosirius and azo-carmine methods, and ground specimens were prepared using a carborundum disk mounted in a handpiece. For SEM study, teeth were frozen in liquid nitrogen and fractured at longitudinal and transversal directions. Structurally, demineralization and ground methods revealed tubules with primary and secondary curvatures, canaliculi, giant tubules, interglobular dentin, predentin, and intertubular dentin. Scanning electron microscopy showed three-dimensional aspects of dentinal tubules, canaliculi, peritubular dentin, intertubular dentin, and predentin. This study contributes to knowledge about dentin morphology showing characteristics of teeth not yet submitted to mastication stress.
The diameter and density of coronal dentinal tubules were assessed in non-erupted human deciduous incisors. Using liquid nitrogen, frozen samples were fractured in longitudinal and oblique directions and observed by means of a Jeol JSM-6100 scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the diameter of dentinal tubules ranged from 0.50 to 1.94 micrometers and increased significantly from the outer to the inner layers. However, comparing the incisal, middle and cervical thirds, no statistically significant differences were observed. The number of tubules per square millimeter varied from 3,281 to 32,313 and also increased from the external dentinal surface to the dentinal surface of the pulp chamber.
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