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Quantitative histological features and ultrastructure of opercula of human teeth showing normal and delayed eruption
Author(s) -
Verma D. K.,
Nair P. N. R.,
Luder H. U.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2004.00251.x
Subject(s) - molar , tooth eruption , medicine , ultrastructure , multinucleate , pathology , anatomy , dentistry
Background: Failure of eruption of human permanent molars has been attributed to opercular lesions, although comparisons with specimens from normally erupting teeth are scarce. The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyse opercula associated with normal and delayed tooth eruption. Method: Twenty opercula covering permanent molars delayed in eruption were obtained from 13 patients aged 7.3–18.1 years. Six opercula from normally erupting molars of five 7.3–17.5‐year‐old subjects served as controls. Specimens were analysed light and electron microscopically and morphometrically. Results: In addition to features recognized previously, prominent numbers of nerves, high endothelial‐like venules and mast cells were observed. Ultrastructurally, large multinucleated cells did not reveal cell boundaries running between the nuclei, and mast cells seemed belonging to the MC TC ‐type. None of the features differed significantly between opercula from cases of delayed and normal tooth eruption. Conclusions: Disturbances of tooth eruption that are attributed to opercular lesions may represent retentions resulting from the failure of the eruption mechanism, rather than impactions because of a physical barrier.