NEET MDS Lessons
Dental Anatomy
The periodontium, which is the supporting structure of a tooth, consists of the cementum, periodontal ligaments, gingiva, and alveolar bone. Cementum is the only one of these that is a part of a tooth. Alveolar bone surrounds the roots of teeth to provide support and creates what is commonly called a "socket". Periodontal ligaments connect the alveolar bone to the cementum, and the gingiva is the surrounding tissue visible in the mouth.
Periodontal ligaments
Histology of the Periodontal Ligament (PDL)
Embryogenesis of the periodontal ligament
The PDL forms from the dental follicle shortly after root development begins
The periodontal ligament is characterized by connective tissue. The thinnest portion is at the middle third of the root. Its width decreases with age. It is a tissue with a high turnover rate.
MANDIBULAR LATERAL INCISORS
The mandibular incisor is a little wider mesiodistal than the mandibular central incisor, and the crown is slightly longer from the incisal edge to the cervical line.
Facial Surface:-The facial surface is less symmetrical than the facial surface of the mandibular central incisor. The incisal edge slopes upward toward the mesioincisal angle, which is slightly less than 90°. The distoincisal angle is rounded. The mesial border is more nearly straight than the distal border.
Lingual Surface:- The incisal portion of the lingual surface is concave. The cingulum is quite large but blends in smoothly with the rest of the surface.
Root Surface:-The root is single and extremely flattened on its mesial and distal surfaces.
Structure
There are 3 pairs
The functional unit is the adenomere.
The adenomere consists of secreting units and an intercalated duct, which opens, in a striated duct.
An secreting unit can be:
- mucous secreting
- serous secreting
THE SECRETING UNIT
THE CELLS
Serous cells
(seromucus cells=secrete also polysaccharides), They have all the features of a cell specialized for the synthesis, storage, and secretion of protein
Pyramidal, Nuclei are rounded and more centrally placed, In the basal 1/3 there is an accumulation of Granular EPR, In the apex there are proteinaceous secretory granules, Cells stain well with H & E (red), Between cells are intercellular secretory capillaries
Rough endoplasmic reticulum (ribosomal sites-->cisternae)
Prominent Golgi-->carbohydrate moieties are added
Secretory granules-->exocytosis
The secretory process is continuous but cyclic
There are complex foldings of cytoplasmic membrane
The junctional complex consists of: 1) tight junctions (zonula occludens)-->fusion of outer cell layer, 2) intermediate junction (zonula adherens)-->intercellular communication, 3)desmosomes-->firm adhesion
Mucus cells
Pyramidal, Nuclei are flattened and near the base, Have big clear secretory granules
Cells do not stain well with H & E (white)
Production, storage, and secretion of proteinaceous material; smaller enzymatic component
-more carbohydrates-->mucins=more prominent Golgi
-less prominent (conspicuous) rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria
-less interdigitations
Myoepithelial cells
Star-shaped, Centrally located nucleus, Long cytoplasmic arms - bound to the secretory cells by desmosomes, Have fibrils like smooth muscle, Squeeze the secretory cell
One, two or even three myoepithelial cells in each salivary and piece body, four to eight processes
Desmosomes between myoepithelial cells and secretory cells myofilaments frequently aggregated to form dark bodies along the course of the process. The myoepithelial cells of the intercalated ducts are more spindled-shaped and fewer processes
Ultrastructure very similar to that of smooth muscle cells (myofilaments, desmosomal attachments)
Functions of myoepithelial cells
-Support secretory cells
-Contract and widen the diameter of the intercalated ducts
-Contraction may aid in the rupture of acinar cells of epithelial origin
Ductal system
Three classes of ducts:
Intercalated ducts
They have small diameter; lined by small cuboidal cells; nucleus located in the center. They have a well-developed RER, Golgi apparatus, occasionally secretory granules, few microvilli. Myoepithelial cells are also present. Intercalated ducts are prominent in salivary glands having a watery secretion (parotid).
Striated ducts
They have columnar cells, a centrally located nucleus, eosinophilic cytoplasm. Prominenty striations that refer to indentations of the cytoplasmic membrane with many mitochondria present between the folds. Some RER and some Golgi. The cells have short microvilli.
The cells of the striated ducts modify the secretion (hypotonic solution=low sodium and chloride and high potassium). There is also presence of few basal cells.
Terminal excretory ducts
Near the striated ducts they have the same histology as the striated ducts. As the duct reaches the oral mucosa the lining becomes stratified. In the terminal ducts one can find goblet cells, basal cells, clear cells. The terminal ducts alter the electrolyte concentration and add mucoid substance.
Connective tissue
Presence of fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, mast cells, adipose cells
Extracellular matrix (glycoproteins and proteoglycans)
Collagen and oxytalan fibers
Nerve supply
The innervation of salivary glands is very complicated. There is no direct inhibitory innervation. There are parasympathetic and sympathetic impulses, the parasympathetic are more prevalent.
The parasympathetic impulses may occur in isolation, evoke most of the fluid to be excreted, cause exocytosis, induce contraction of myoepithelial cells (sympathetic too) and cause vasodialtion. There are two types of innervation: epilemmal and hypolemmal. There are beta-adrenergic receptors that induce protein secretion and L-adrenergic and cholinergic receptors that induce water and electrolyte secretion.
Hormones can influence the function of the salivary glands. They modify the salivary content but cannot initiate salivary flow.
Age changes
Fibrosis and fatty degenerative changes
Presence of oncocytes (eosinophilic cells containing many mitochondria)
Clinical considerations
Role of drugs, systemic disorders, bacterial or viral infections, therapeutic radiation, obstruction, formation of plaque and calculus.
- Rich capillary networks surround the adenomeres.
MANDIBULAR FIRST BICUSPID
Facial: The outline is very nearly symmetrical bilaterally, displaying a large, pointed buccal cusp. From it descends a large, well developed buccal ridge.
Lingual: This tooth has the smallest and most ill-defined lingual cusp of any of the premolars. A distinctive feature is the mesiolingual developmental groove
Proximal: The large buccal cusp tip is centered over the root tip, about at the long axis of this tooth. The very large buccal cusp and much reduced lingual cusp are very evident. You should keep in mind that the mesial marginal ridge is more cervical than the distal contact ridge; each anticipate the shape of their respective adjacent teeth.
Occlusal: The occlusal outline is diamond-shaped. The large buccal cusp dominates the occlusal surface. Marginal ridges are well developed and the mesiolingual developmental groove is consistently present. There are mesial and distal fossae with pits,
Contact Points: When viewed from the facial, each contact area/height of curvature is at about the same height.
Root Surface:-The root of the mandibular first bicuspid is usually single, but on occasion can be bifurcated (two roots).
1. Errors in development. These are usually genetic.
a. Variability of the individual teeth. In general, the teeth most distal in any class are the most variable.
b. Partial or total anodontia. missing teeth in children,
c. Supernumerary teeth.
d. Microdontia
e. Macrodontia
F. Microdontia
2. Errors in skeletal alignment. Malpositioned jaws disrupt normal tooth relationships.
3. Soft tissue problems.
-Ocasionally, the proper eruption of a tooth is prevented by fibrous connective tissue over the crown of the tooth.
-In the mixed dentition, the deciduous second molars have a special importance for the integrity of the permanent dentition. Consider this: The first permanent molars at age six years erupt distal to the second deciduous molars.
-Permanent posterior teeth exhibit physiological mesial drift, the tendency to drift mesially when space is available. If the deciduous second molars are lost prematurely, the first permanent molars drift anteriorly and block out the second premolars.
An incisor diastema may be present. The plural for diastema is diastemata.
-Important: The deciduous anteriors--incisors and canines are narrower than their permanent successors mesiodistally.
-Important: The deciduous molars are wider that their permanent successors mesiodistally.
-This size difference has clinical significance. The difference is called the leeway space.
The leeway space in the lower arch is approximately 3.4 mm.
-The leeway space in the upper arch is approximately 1.8 mm. In normal development, the leeway space is taken up by the mesial migration of the first permanent molars.
ERUPTION OF THE PERMANENT TOOTH
- At the time at which the deciduous tooth erupts the tooth bud for the permanent tooth has already been building up enamel and dentin.
- When the permanent tooth starts to erupt, pressure on the root of the deciduous tooth causes resorption by the osteoclasts.
- Wolff's law states that when two hard tissues exert pressure on one another the softer of the tissues will be resorbed.
- The dentin and cementum of the root of the deciduous tooth is softer than the enamel of the permanent tooth that is why the root of the deciduous tooth is resorbed.
- Most permanent teeth have erupted and have been in use for 2 years before the root is completely formed.
Permanent teeth
1. The permanent teeth begin formation between birth and 3 years of age (except for the third molars)
2. The crowns of permanent teeth are completed between 4 and 8 years of age, at approximately one- half the age of eruption
The sequence for permanent development
Maxillary
First molar → Central incisor → Lateral incisor → First premotar → Second pmmolar → Canine → Second molar → Third molar
Mandibular
First molar → Central incisor → Lateral incisor → Canine → First premolar → Second premolar → Second molar → Third molar
Permanent teeth emerge into the oral cavity as
Maxillary Mandibular
Central incisor 7-8 years 6-7 years
Lateral incisor 8-9 years 7-8 years
Canine 11-12 years 9-10 years
First premolar 10-Il years 10-12 years
Second premolar 10-12 years 11-12 years
First molar 6-7 years 6-7 years
Second molar 12-13 years 11-13 years
Third molar 17-21 years 17-21 years
The roots of the permanent teeth are completed between 10 and 16 years of age, 2 to 3 years after eruption