Gubernacular cord and canal – does these anatomical structures play a role in dental eruption?

Abstract

The gubernacular cord is an original structure of the dental lamina, which undergoes apoptosis and their remnants were organized in the form of epithelial islets and strands that lined up, leaving the reduced epithelium of the enamel organ towards the oral mucosa. This structure is located within the gubernacular canal, which can be identified as a small opening in the alveolar region of the lingual or palatal surface of the deciduous teeth. Objective:To conceptualize, identify and assess the possible contribution of the gubernacular cord and canal in the process of tooth eruption. Literature review: A review of literature on Pubmed, Medline and Bireme databases, without datum restriction. Little amount of scientific articles were found, and only 14 studies were identified. The authors addressed the matter succinctly, with little information about these structures, which can play an important role in the process of tooth eruption. Conclusion: The gubernacular cord and canal are anatomical structures located in the alveolar bone crest of the maxilla or mandible, behind the deciduous teeth. These structures appear to exhibit the ability to aid the eruption path of the permanent teeth successors. Despite being a relevant subject, few professionals know this structure and its possible role in the process of tooth eruption.

Estudo do canal gubernacular por meio de TCFC

“…O folículo dentário de um dente permanente está ligado à lâmina própria da gengiva suprajacente por um tecido conjuntivo fibroso, com fibras longitudinais, havendo ilhotas epiteliais em seu interior (Malassez, 1887;Mummery, 1919). Acredita-se que cordão gubernacular tem origem da lâmina dentária, devido aos restos epiteliais entremeados em sua estrutura fibrosa e, por conta da presença de tecido epitelial e mediadores como o epithelial growing factor (EGF), a atividade osteoblástica respeita os limites do cordão gubernacular, formando o canal em sua volta Ferreira et al, 2013).…”

“…Porém, TOA está presente em dentes molares permanentes. Há essa contradição devido à incerteza sobre a presença ou não de gubernaculum dentis em dentes decíduos e dentes permanentes sem predecessores decíduos (Ferreira et al, 2013).…”

“…The dental follicle of a permanent tooth is connected to the lamina propria of the overlying gum by a connective tissue of longitudinal fibers, with epithelial strands inside [2,3]. It is believed that the gubernacular cord has origin in the dental lamina, due to the presence of epithelial tissue, which associated with mediators as the epithelial growing factor (EGF), regulates the osteoblastic activity respecting the boundaries of the gubernacular cord, shaping the GC around it [3][4][5][6]. The gubernaculum dentis is considered important in the eruption process [7], since it represents the pathway that the tooth run across the bone during the eruption process.…”