title: A histologic study of the width and nature of inter-radicular spaces in human adult pre-molars and molars.
abstract: Serial sections of jaw segments from a human post mortem population of 29 individuals providing 116 posterior interproximal sites were examined at the light microscopic level. Minimum inter-root distances at the locale of closest proximity ranged from more than 4 mm to less than 0.1 mm. They were located in the coronal third of pre-molars and mandibular first and second molars and the middle third of maxillary first molars and second molar interproximal spaces. Cancellous bone flanked by lamina dura was found between 89.6% of the teeth examined and was observed where inter-root distances exceeded 0.5 mm. At sites of less than 0.5 mm, cancellous bone was not observed, and, instead, adjacent laminae durae appeared fused (7.7%). Bone was not observed between root surfaces which were less than 0.3 mm apart, but in these instances the roots were connected by a periodontal ligament.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Heins
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wieder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology*