Journal of Dental Research, Vol 56, 1245-1254, Copyright © 1977 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Quantification of pulpal blood flow in developing teeth of dogs
M. G. Path and M. W. Meyer
Pulpal blood flow was determined in 32 dogs ranging in age from 6 weeks to
18 months by the isotope fractionation method incorporating diffusible and
nondiffusible tracers. Dogs were placed into selected age groups by the
developmental status of the canine teeth. For the teeth sampled, the
maxillary first, second, and third incisors along with the canines and
first molars, pulpal blood flow was determined to be not different in teeth
at various developmental stages. For some dental pulps, alveolar mucosa,
and bone, the tracers were not determining equivalent blood flows. Because
of incomplete trapping of the 7- to 10 mu microspheres and the flow
limitation of 86Rb, the 15 mu spheres would appear to be a reliable
indicator of "total" blood flow to pulpal tissues. However, in alveolar
mucosa and bone, and 15 mu microspheres may not be completely trapped and
thus, may underestimate blood flow to these tissues. Within the age range
of these dogs, tissue blood flow was not dependent upon the stages of oral
development.
