Age Factor in Secondary Dentin Formation

¹ Athens, Greece

Two hundred and seventy-three permanent upper central incisors were separated to represent 14 5-year age groups, from 6 to 10 through 71 or more years. One central labiolingual ground section was made from each of the teeth. One section from each of the 14 age groups was selected for low-power photomicrographs (X20).

After completion of the primary dentin and "closure" of the apex, two types of secondary dentin were formed in increasing amount with increasing age. The regular secondary dentin was slowly formed on the walls of the pulp chamber of crown and root. The irregular secondary dentin was first formed more on the lingual than on labial and incisal walls of the pulp chamber of the crown of the upper central incisor. With advancing age, the irregular secondary dentin progressively filled the pulp chamber of the entire crown and most of the root canal. The metamorphosis of the primary dentin tubules toward transparency increased from periphery of crown and root inward toward the pulp, with increase in age of the upper central incisor. This occurred under normal function without severe attrition, caries, or erosion.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. E. GOODIS, J. C. ROSSALL, and A. J. KAHN Endodontic status in older U.S. adults: Report of a survey J Am Dent Assoc, November 1, 2001; 132(11): 1525 - 1530. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]