Tooth eruption Theories

Tooth eruption occurs when the teeth enter the mouth and become visible. Although researchers agree that tooth eruption is a complex process, there is little agreement on the identity of the mechanism that controls eruption. Some commonly held theories that have been disproven over time include: (1) the tooth is pushed upward into the mouth by the growth of the tooth's root, (2) the tooth is pushed upward by the growth of the bone around the tooth, (3) the tooth is pushed upward by vascular pressure, and (4) the tooth is pushed upward by the cushioned hammock. The cushioned hammock theory, first proposed by Harry Sicher, was taught widely from the 1930s to the 1950s. This theory postulated that a ligament below a tooth, which Sicher observed on under a microscope on a histologic slide, was responsible for eruption. Later, the "ligament" Sicher observed was determined to be merely an artifact created in the process of preparing the slide.

The most widely held current theory is that while several forces might be involved in eruption, the periodontal ligaments provide the main impetus for the process. Theorists hypothesize that the periodontal ligaments promote eruption through the shrinking and cross-linking of their collagen fibers and the contraction of their fibroblasts.

Although tooth eruption occurs at different times for different people, a general eruption timeline exists. Typically, humans have 20 primary (baby) teeth and 32 permanent teeth. Tooth eruption has three stages. The first, known as deciduous dentition stage, occurs when only primary teeth are visible. Once the first permanent tooth erupts into the mouth, the teeth are in the mixed (or transitional) dentition. After the last primary tooth falls out of the mouth—a process known as exfoliation—the teeth are in the permanent dentition.

Primary dentition starts on the arrival of the mandibular central incisors, usually at eight months, and lasts until the first permanent molars appear in the mouth, usually at six years. The primary teeth typically erupt in the following order: (1) central incisor, (2) lateral incisor, (3) first molar, (4) canine, and (5) second molar. As a general rule, four teeth erupt for every six months of life, mandibular teeth erupt before maxillary teeth, and teeth erupt sooner in females than males. During primary dentition, the tooth buds of permanent teeth develop below the primary teeth, close to the palate or tongue.

Mixed dentition starts when the first permanent molar appears in the mouth, usually at six years, and lasts until the last primary tooth is lost, usually at eleven or twelve years. Permanent teeth in the maxilla erupt in a different order from permanent teeth on the mandible. Maxillary teeth erupt in the following order: (1) first molar (2) central incisor, (3) lateral incisor, (4) first premolar, (5) second premolar, (6) canine, (7) second molar, and (8) third molar. Mandibular teeth erupt in the following order: (1) first molar (2) central incisor, (3) lateral incisor, (4) canine, (5) first premolar, (6) second premolar, (7) second molar, and (8) third molar. Since there are no premolars in the primary dentition, the primary molars are replaced by permanent premolars. If any primary teeth are lost before permanent teeth are ready to replace them, some posterior teeth may drift forward and cause space to be lost in the mouth. This may cause crowding and/or misplacement once the permanent teeth erupt, which is usually referred to as malocclusion. Orthodontics may be required in such circumstances for an individual to achieve a straight set of teeth.

The permanent dentition begins when the last primary tooth is lost, usually at 11 to 12 years, and lasts for the rest of a person's life or until all of the teeth are lost (edentulism). During this stage, third molars (also called "wisdom teeth") are frequently extracted because of decay, pain or impactions. The main reasons for tooth loss are decay or periodontal disease.

MAXILLARY FIRST MOLAR

The first molars are also known as 6-year molars, because they erupt when a child is about 6 years

Facial Surface:-The facial surface has a facial groove that continues over from the occlusal surface, and runs down to the middle third of the facial surface.

Lingual Surface:-In a great many instances, there is a cusp on the lingual surface of the mesiolingual cusp. This is a fifth cusp called the cusp of Carabelli, which is in addition to the four cusps on the occlusal surface.

Proximal: In mesial perspective the mesiolingual cusp, mesial marginal ridge, and mesiobuccal cusp comprise the occlusal outline. In its distal aspect, the two distal cusps are clearly seen; however, the distal marginal ridge is somewhat shorter than the mesial one.

Occlusal Surface:- The tooth outline is somewhat rhomboidal with four distinct cusps. The cusp order according to size is: mesiolingual, mesiobuccal, distobuccal, and distolingual. The tips of the mesiolingual, mesiobuccal, and distobuccal cusps form the trigon, Cusp of Carabelli located on the mesiolingual cusp.

Contact Points; The mesial contact is above, but close to, the mesial marginal ridge. It is somewhat buccal to the center of the crown mesiodistally. The distal contact is similarly above the distal marginal ridge but is centered buccolingually.

Roots:-The maxillary first molar has three roots, which are named according to their locations mesiofacial, distofacial, and lingual (or palatal root). The lingual root is the largest.

TOOTH MORPHOLOGY

Descriptive anatomy

• Median sagittal plane: the imaginary plane in the center that divides right from left.
• Median line: an imaginary line on that plane that bisects the dental arch at the center.
• Mesial: toward the center (median) line of the dental arch.
• Distal: away from the center (median) line of the dental arch.
• Occlusal plane: A plane formed by the cusps of the teeth. It is often curved, as in a cylinder. We will speak often of the occlusal surface of a tooth.
• Proximal: the surface of a tooth that is toward another tooth in the arch.
• Mesial surface: toward the midline.
• Distal surface: away from the midline.
• Facial: toward the cheeks or lips.
• Labial: facial surface of anterior teeth (toward the lips).
• Buccal: facial surfaceof anterior teeth (toward the cheeks).
• Lingual: toward the tongue.
• Occlusal: the biting surface; that surface that articulates with an antagonist tooth in an opposing arch.
• Incisal: cutting edge of anterior teeth.
• Apical: toward the apex, the tip of the root.

Histology of the Pulp

PARTICIPATING CELLS

1. Odontoblasts (body and process)
Most distinctive cells of the pulp
Single layer
The cells are columnar in the coronal portion, cuboidal in the middle portion, flat in the apical portion

Individual odontoblasts communicate with each other via junctions. The number of odontoblasts corresponds to the number of dentinal tubules.
The lifespan of an odontoblast equals the one of a vital tooth.
The morphology of the odontoblasts reflects their functional activity.
(There are three stages that reflect the functional activity of a cell: active, transitional and resting)

The odontoblastic process

2. Fibroblasts
Most numerous cells
Produce collagen fibers and ground substance
Ground substance consists of: proteoglycans and glycoproteins
Again, active and resting cells
Fibroblasts have also capability to degrade collagen

3. Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells A pool of cells from which connective tissue cells can derive.
They are reduced with age.

4. Endothelial cells, Schwann cells, pericytes and immunocompetent cells

MATRIX

It is composed of fibers and ground substance
55% of the fibers are Type I collagen. 45% of the fibers are Type III collagen.
The ground substance is gelatinous in the coronal aspect and more fibrous in the apical.

VASCULARITY

Superior and inferior alveolar arteries that derive from the external carotids
Afferent side of the circulation: arterioles
Efferent side of the circulation: venules
Lymphatics

Small, blind, thin-walled vessels in the coronal region of the pulp and exit via one or two larger vessels.
 

HISTOLOGY OF THE ODONTOBLAST

Formation of Dentin

Mantle dentin: First formed dentin
Type I collagen with ground substance
Formation of the odontoblast process

Matrix vesicles
Appearance of hydroxyapatite crystals
 

Predentin
Primary physiologic (circumpulpal) dentin
All organic matrix is formed from odontoblasts
Smaller collagen fibers
Presence of phosphophoryn

Mineralization
Globular calcification
Interglobular dentin: Areas of incomplete calcification
Incremental lines of von Ebner: Daily, 4mm of organic matrix is deposited. Also every 5 days the arrangement of collagen fibers changes. This creates the incremental lines of von Ebner.
Intratubular dentin

Dentin tubules
S-shaped in the coronal aspect, straight in root dentin

Von Korff fibers
They are an artifact

Stationary Relationship

a) .Centric Relation is the most superior relationship of the condyle of the mandible to the articular fossa of the temporal bone as determined by the bones ligaments. and muscles of the temporomandibular joint; in an ideal dentition it is the same as centric occlusion.

(b) Canines may also be used to confirm the molar relationships to classify occlusion when molars are missing; a class I canine relationship shows the cusp tip of the maxillary canine facial to the mesiobuccal cusp of the first permanent molar

c) Second primary molars are used to classify the occlusion in a primary dentition

(d) In a mixed  dentition the first permanent molars will erupt into a normal occlusion if there is a terminal step between the distal  surfaces of maxillarv and mandibular second primary molars; if these surfaces are flush, a terminal plane exists and the first permanent molars will first erupt into an end-to-end relationship until there is a shifting of space or exfoliation of the second primary molar