The shape and diversity of the mammalian molar teeth is suggested to be regulated by the primary and secondary enamel knots, which are putative epithelial signaling centers of the tooth. In search of novel molecules involved in tooth morphogenesis, we analyzed mRNA expression of Slit1, -2 and -3, earlier characterized as secreted signals needed for axonal pathfinding and their two receptors Rob...

Tooth enamel microstructure is a reliable and widely used indicator of dietary interpretations and data for phylogenetic reconstruction, if all levels of variability are investigated. It is usually difficult to have a thorough examination at all levels of enamel structures for any mammals, especially for the early mammals, which are commonly represented by sparse specimens. Because of the rando...

A comparative study has been made of human and great ape molar tooth enamel. Nanoindentation techniques are used to map profiles of elastic modulus and hardness across sections from the enamel-dentin junction to the outer tooth surface. The measured data profiles overlap between species, suggesting a degree of commonality in material properties. Using established deformation and fracture relati...

Rhythmic incremental growth lines and the presence of melatonin receptors were discovered in tooth enamel, suggesting possible role of circadian rhythm. We therefore hypothesized that circadian rhythm may regulate enamel formation through melatonin receptors. To test this hypothesis, we examined expression of melatonin receptors (MTs) and amelogenin (AMELX), a maker of enamel formation, during ...

In the developing tooth, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate (HEBP) causes hypoplasia and hypomineralization of enamel and dentine. The present study was undertaken to clarify the effects of HEBP on the formation of dental tissues of tooth germs in an organ culture system. Mandibular first molars from 17.5-day-old mouse embryos were cultured with or without 250 microM HEBP in culture medium....

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and has a unique combination of hardness and fracture toughness that protects teeth from dental caries, the most common chronic disease worldwide. In addition to a high mineral content, tooth enamel comprises organic material that is important for mechanical performance and influences the initiation and progression of caries; however, the ...

The form of two hard tissues of the mammalian tooth, dentine and enamel, is the result of a combination of the phylogenetic inheritance of dental traits and the adaptive selection of these traits during evolution. Recent decades have been significant in unveiling developmental processes controlling tooth morphogenesis, dental variation and the origination of dental novelties. The enamel-dentine...

The aims of this study were to examine the enamel protective effect of a direct laminate veneer against acidic conditions, measure the amount of fluoride released from the veneer and which was taken up by the enamel, as well as evaluate the usefulness of the veneer for orthodontic treatment. First, a veneer was applied to rabbit incisors. Then, apart from using profile measurement microscope an...

Tooth shade results from the interaction between enamel color, enamel translucency and dentine color. A change in any of these parameters will change a tooths color. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes occurring in enamel translucency during a tooth whitening process. Fourteen human tooth enamel fragments, with a mean thickness of 0.96 mm (+/- 0.3 mm), were subjected to a bl...

Dental scientists are eagerly embracing regenerative medicine using tissue engineering technology. Enamel, one component of teeth, is the hardest tissue in the body. It cannot regenerate by itself, because it is formed by a layer of ameloblasts that is lost by the time the tooth crown has completely formed. Although the enamel is spent during lifetime, it is vulnerable to wear, damage, and deca...