Age-related odontometric changes of human teeth.
OBJECTIVE
The number of older patients requiring restorative treatment are likely to increase due to improvements in oral health and increased longevity. However, aging odontometric data are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine possible changes in pulp cell density, pulp area, and dentinal thickness with age.


METHODS
Incisors (50), canines (39), premolars (51), and molars (7) extracted from 60 patients aged between 10 and 59 years, were analyzed histomorphometrically for cell density (odontoblasts, subodontoblasts, and pulp core fibroblasts) and dentinal thickness.


RESULTS
With increasing patient age, in both crown and root aspects of teeth, dentinal thickness increased (P <.001), while the density of odontoblasts (P <.001), subodontoblasts (P = 0.001), and pulp fibroblasts (crown, P <.011; root, P =.0015) decreased. The degree of age-related changes in teeth appeared to be asymmetrical, with decreases in the root being greater than in the crown. At all ages pulp cell densities, including odontoblasts, within the crown were greater than in the root (P <.001), even though the calculated rate of dentinal deposition was greatest in the root.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreases in pulp cell density may reduce pulp repair activity after restorative treatments, although increases in dentinal thickness may aid pulp protection. An understanding of these age-related changes will influence the provision of restorative and endodontic care and benefit older patients.
Murray
Peter E
PE
Oral Biology, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis 46202-5782, USA. petmurra@iupui.edu
Stanley
Harold R
HR
Matthews
John B
JB
Sloan
Alastair J
AJ
Smith
Anthony J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology; D003804:Dentin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D009811:Odontometry; D012737:Sex Factors; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000033:anatomy & histology