title: Comparative Physicochemical Analysis of Pulp Stone and Dentin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Odontoblasts are responsible for the synthesis of dentin throughout the life of the tooth. Tooth pulp tissue may undergo a pathologic process of mineralization, resulting in formation of pulp stones. Although the prevalence of pulp stones in dental caries is significant, their development and histopathology are poorly understood, and their precise composition has never been established. The aim of the present study was to investigate the physicochemical properties of the mineralized tissues of teeth to elucidate the pathologic origin of pulp stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Areas of carious and healthy dentin of 8 decayed teeth intended for extraction were analyzed and compared. In addition, 6 pulp stones were recovered from 5 teeth requiring root canal treatment. The samples were embedded in resin, sectioned, and observed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction was performed to identify phases and crystallinity. X-ray fluorescence provided information on the elemental composition of the samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulp stones showed heterogeneous structure and chemical composition. X-ray diffraction revealed partially carbonated apatite. X-ray fluorescence identified P, Ca, Cu, Zn, and Sr within dentin and pulp stones. Zn and Cu concentrations were higher in pulp stones and carious dentin compared with healthy dentin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulpal cells produce unstructured apatitic mineralizations containing abnormally high Zn and Cu levels.
authors.affiliation: Univ Paris 07, Univ Paris 06, Univ Paris 05, Equipe Berdal, Unites Mixtes Rech 11, Ctr Rech Cordeliers, INSERM, Lab Physiopathol Orale, Paris, France; UFR d'Odontologie, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Fleur
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berès
authors.affiliation: Univ Paris 07, Univ Paris 06, Univ Paris 05, Equipe Berdal, Unites Mixtes Rech 11, Ctr Rech Cordeliers, INSERM, Lab Physiopathol Orale, Paris, France; UFR d'Odontologie, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France; Laboratory of Morphogenesis Molecular Genetics, Department of Developmental and Stem Cells Biology, Institut Pasteur, CNRS URA 2578, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.affiliation: ITODYS, UMR 7086 CNRS, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mouton
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Paris-Sud University, CNRS, UMR 8502, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rouzière
authors.affiliation: Univ Paris 07, Univ Paris 06, Univ Paris 05, Equipe Berdal, Unites Mixtes Rech 11, Ctr Rech Cordeliers, INSERM, Lab Physiopathol Orale, Paris, France; UFR d'Odontologie, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berdal
authors.affiliation: Univ Paris 07, Univ Paris 06, Univ Paris 05, Equipe Berdal, Unites Mixtes Rech 11, Ctr Rech Cordeliers, INSERM, Lab Physiopathol Orale, Paris, France; UFR d'Odontologie, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France; Hopital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Service d'Odontologie, Paris, France. Electronic address: simendo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Univ Paris 07, Univ Paris 06, Univ Paris 05, Equipe Berdal, Unites Mixtes Rech 11, Ctr Rech Cordeliers, INSERM, Lab Physiopathol Orale, Paris, France; UFR d'Odontologie, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dessombz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003784:Dental Pulp Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Carious dentin; copper; inflammation; pulpal calcification; zinc