Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 78-83, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Morphometric analysis of teeth with inflamed pulp
J. Warfvinge
The most common method of evaluating pulp tissue reactions to injury is by
a qualitative assessment of pulp tissue alterations. This evaluation method
is subjective and difficult to quantify; stereological methods are more
suitable, for they can quantify important tissue components, and so more
objectively describe pulp tissues. This study compares a morphometric and a
descriptive method of classification for pulp tissue analysis by using 15
teeth with inflamed pulp tissue, and 12 teeth experimentally pulp-capped
with calcium hydroxide. Morphometric analysis allowed for volumes of
remaining dentin, pulp tissue, inflamed pulp tissue, and reparative dentin
to be calculated. In addition, volume densities of polymorphonuclear and
mononuclear leukocytes, odontoblasts, fibroblasts, erythrocytes, vessels,
and residual tissue were calculated for comparison among different
experimental teeth. The morphometric method provided a quantitative
description of tissue reactions. The descriptive method of classification
was adequate when inflamed tissue subjacent to the cavity was evaluated,
but was less precise than the morphometric method in describing reactions
deeper in the tissue. The descriptive method could delineate the amounts
and types of inflammatory cells only in non-quantified terms, while the
morphometric method could quantify and locate them. It also yielded a
quantified evaluation of the healing sequence of experimentally pulp-capped
teeth. In conclusion, a morphometric method can yield more quantitative
data on pulp tissue reactions than can a descriptive method of
classification.
