title: Dentinal tubules at the root ends of apicected teeth: a scanning electron microscopic study.
abstract: Two groups of teeth, one of which contained teeth of known age, were examined by scanning electron microscopy to ascertain the presence of a potential pathway for leakage at the root ends of apicected teeth. At a point approximately 3 mm from the apex, a level chosen as being typical for apicectomy, and half-way between the root canal and the dentine-cementum junction, there were found to be, on average, 27,000 tubules per mm2. Older teeth also displayed large numbers of tubules. Close to the dentine-cementum junction, an area which may communicate with the root canal even in the presence of a retrograde root filling, an average of 13,000 tubules per mm2 were found.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Tidmarsh
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Arrowsmith
mesh_terms: D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003804:Dentin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000648:ultrastructure