title: Transmission electron microscopic characterization of hypersensitive human radicular dentin.
abstract: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray microanalysis (XMA) were used for the study of the ultrastructure of the lumens of dentinal tubules in superficial layers of dentin specimens obtained by use of a new biopsy technique from both hypersensitive and naturally desensitized areas of exposed root surfaces, in vivo. The TEM images showed clearly that the lumens of most of the tubules were occluded with mineral crystals in naturally desensitized areas, but such lumens were empty and surrounded with peritubular and intertubular dentin in hypersensitive areas. Moreover, electron-dense structures that lined peritubular dentin were observed in the empty lumens of dentinal tubules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Tokushima University School of Dentistry, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshiyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Noiri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D003804:Dentin / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000473:pathology*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D002118:Calcium