title: Microscopic study of dental hard tissues in primary teeth with Dentinogenesis Imperfecta Type II: Correlation of 3D imaging using X-ray microtomography and polarising microscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the histological appearance of dental hard tissues in primary teeth from children with DI using conventional polarised light microscopy and correlate that with 3D imaging using X-ray microtomograpy (XMT) to gain a further understanding of the dentine structure of teeth diagnosed with dentinogenesis imperfecta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Undecalcified sections of primary teeth from patients diagnosed with Dentinogenesis Imperfecta Type II were examined using polarised light microscopy. XMT was employed for 3D-imaging and analysis of the dentine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The polarised light microscopy and XMT revealed tubular structures in the dentine seen as vacuoles coinciding with the path of normal dentinal tubules but not continuous tubules. The size of the tubules was close to that of capillaries. The largest tubular structures had a direction corresponding to where the pulp tissue would have been located during primary dentine formation. The dysfunctional mineralisation of the dentine and obliteration of the pulp evidently leaves blood vessels in the dentine which have in the main been tied off and, in the undecalcified sections, appear as vacuoles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although from radiographs, the pulp in teeth affected by Dentinogenesis Imperfect type II appears to be completely obliterated, a network of interconnected vessels may remain. The presence of large dentinal tubules and blood vessels, or the remnants of blood vessels, could provide a pathway for bacteria from the oral cavity. This might account for why some of these teeth develop periapical abscesses in spite of apparently having no pulp.
authors: Dental Physical Sciences, Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: G.R.Davis@qmul.ac.uk.
authors: Graham R
authors: GR
authors: Davis
authors: Department of Paediatric Dentistry, The Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Janice M
authors: JM
authors: Fearne
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Sabel
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Jörgen G
authors: JG
authors: Norén
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003811:Dentinogenesis Imperfecta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
keywords: Dentinogenesis Imperfecta; Micro-CT; Polarising light microscopy; Pulp obliteration; Pulpal capillaries