title: [Late development of human dental enamel].
abstract: Planes of longitudinal fractures of human dental enamel observed in scanning electron microscopy showed morphological variations related to age. This late maturation was observed along the enamel sheaths which disappeared in the subsurface and decreased in the rest of the structure. The destructions produced by demineralizing substances (phosphoric acid, citric acid, EDTA) were always more severe in enamel of older teeth when compared to younger samples. A pretreatment of the fragments with a urea solution increased the acid effects only in young enamel. It is suggested that the late maturation of enamel consists in a reduction of matrix components.
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003747:Dental Enamel Solubility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014508:Urea / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014508:Urea
vernacular_title: Maturation tardive de l'émail dentaire humain.