Three-dimensional direction and interrelationship of prisms in cuspal and cervical enamel of dog tooth

摘要

abstract_textpThe three-dimensional architecture of enamel prisms was examined in cuspal enamel and compared with that in cervical enamel by light and electron microscopy as well as computer-assisted reconstruction using the developing enamel of several dog teeth./ppDog tooth enamel consists of two groups of alternately arranged enamel prisms oriented in opposite sideward directions basically forming thick horizontal rings, partly branching off from the stem. Along a 8-10 enamel prism-wide group, the enamel prisms emerge in parallel tilting uniformly to the same sideward direction. In cervices, groups of enamel prisms are arranged nearly in parallel displaying a regular arrangement of prisms. Approaching the cusp of tooth, the groups of enamel prisms fuse to a concentric cusp-centered arrangement and the prisms exhibit no periodic arrangement as shown in the cervical enamel./ppIt is suggested that the three-dimensional structure of enamel becomes complicated close to the cusp, contributing to the chewing stress of tooth. Anat. Rec. 252:355-368, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc./p/abstract_text