A COMPARATIVE HISTOLOGIC-STUDY OF THE PULP DENTINAL INTERFACE IN UNDEMINERALIZED AND DEMINERALIZED TOOTH SECTIONS

This study examines cellular differences between undemineralized and d emineralized tooth sections. The material comprised unerupted and part ly erupted third molars. After fixation for 24 h, 10- to 15-mum ground sections were prepared from half of the tooth, using a cutting-grindi ng system. The sections were compared with demineralized routine secti ons from the other half of the tooth. Undemineralized sections showed a better capacity for preserving the tissue integration. Especially be tween the odontoblast layer and the predentin a low frequency of disju nctions or tears were noted. At this level of examination fixation qua lity and vacuole frequency (intra-cellular spaces) did not show any di fferences between the two methods.