Mineralization in the roots of human deciduous teeth demonstrated by tetracycline labelling

Abstract

The pattern of tetracycline labelling was investigated on ground sections of the roots of deciduous teeth. All bands were continuous across the granular layer of Tomes where they turned coronally. Underlying acellular cementum, the bands appeared to merge with the hyaline layer of Hopewell-Smith. In regions where cellular cementum was present, the bands ran through areas identifiable as cellular and intermediate cementum. Previously ( owens, 1972) the band pattern in the coronal region was interpreted as indicative of mineralization in an initially unmineralized surface zone of root dentine. However, a similar interpretation in relation to cellular cementum was not possible and could not be reconciled easily with conventional views of cementogenesis. An alternative hypothesis was therefore postulated, suggesting that, during formation, the surface of dentine may become modified to resemble cellular and intermediate cementum.