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Age‐related alterations of periodontal structures around the cemento‐enamel junction and of the gingival connective tissue composition in germ‐free rats
Author(s) -
Amstadjossi M.,
Schroeder H. E.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1978.tb00156.x
Subject(s) - junctional epithelium , connective tissue , molar , cementum , enamel paint , dental alveolus , coronal plane , periodontal fiber , dentistry , anatomy , mandibular second molar , dental cementum , chemistry , medicine , dentin , pathology
Germfree RIC‐Sprague‐Dawley rats, ranging in age between 30 and 80 days, were used to establish age‐related changes in the periodontal tissues around upper and lower molars. At consecutive steps with a 10‐day interval each, uper and lower jaws of these animals were excised and processed for (1) direct observation and histometric measurements connective tissue composition. The data obtained suggested that during the observational period (1) the distance between the cemento‐enamel junction and the alveolar bone crest increased at the lingual side of lower first and the palatal and lingual side of upper and lower second molars but, on any other site, remained constant with time, (2) the junctional epithelium sporadically retracted in coronal direction at all sides of upper and lower molars but, interdentally between first and second molars, this retraction was accompanied by the formation of afibrillar cementum spurs overlapping the cervical enamel, (3) the size and numerical density of gingival fibroblasts changed, while the overall volume density of collagen, except at the oral site, remained constant with time. These age‐dependent alterations are of considerable interest when studying inflammatory periodontal destruction as well as in relation to tooth eruption and connective tissue turnover.