Epithelial Activity in the Exfoliation of the Deciduous Tooth and the Emerging Permanent Tooth

¹ University of Kansas City School of Dentistry, Kansas City, Missouri

The pattern of resorption of the deciduous tooth conformed to the position of the erupting permanent tooth. The permanent tooth might erupt directly beneath the deciduous tooth, or it might be labially or lingually inclined. In the latter instance, root fragments were found in the underlying tissue after exfoliation of the deciduous tooth. The odontogenic epithelium of the permanent tooth enveloped the root fragments when present.

The sulcus epithelium of the deciduous tooth participated in the repair of the wound and was ultimately replaced with masticatory mucosa. The sulcus epithelium of the deciduous tooth did not enter into the formation of the sulcus of the permanent tooth.