Mineralization-defects are comparable in fluorotic impacted human teeth and fluorotic mouse incisors

Evaluation of hard tissue characteristics and calcifications in pulp tissue of hypomineralized permanent molars using micro-computed tomography

OBJECTIVES

To determine and compare pulp volume, dentin mineral density, presence of microcracks, pulp stones, and accessory canals, as well as their localizations in root regions for hypomineralized and healthy teeth.

DESIGN

This study included 60 extracted permanent molar teeth, categorized into hypomineralized and healthy groups (n = 30 each). The hypomineralized group comprised molar teeth with limited white, yellow, or brown opacities, post-eruptive breakdown, or extensive restoration or crown damage. The healthy group included caries-free molar teeth without these characteristics. Using 3D micro-computed tomography images pulp volume, dentin mineral density, and the presence and locations of microcracks, pulp stones, and accessory canals were determined for each group. Statistical analyses were conducted using Independent T-test and Chi-square test, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding pulp volume and microcracks (p ≥ 0.05). The number of accessory canals was significantly greater in the cervical (p = 0.011; p < 0.05) and middle (p = 0.010; p < 0.05) regions of the hypomineralized teeth than healthy teeth. Dentin mineral density was statistically higher in the apical, middle, and cervical root regions (p < 0.001; p < 0.05); however, the number of pulp stones was found to be greater in the cervical regions of healthy teeth compared with those with hypomineralization (p = 0.026; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There were lower dentin mineral density measurements, a decreased number of pulp stones in the cervical region, and a greater number of accessory canals in the middle and cervical regions of hypomineralized teeth compared with healthy teeth.

Identification of stages of amelogenesis in the continuously growing mandiblular incisor of C57BL/6J male mice throughout life using molar teeth as landmarks

Continuously growing mouse incisors are widely used to study amelogenesis, since all stages of this process (i.e., secretory, transition and maturation) are present in a spatially determined sequence at any given time. To study biological changes associated with enamel formation, it is important to develop reliable methods for collecting ameloblasts, the cells that regulate enamel formation, from different stages of amelogenesis. Micro-dissection, the key method for collecting distinct ameloblast populations from mouse incisors, relies on positions of molar teeth as landmarks for identifying critical stages of amelogenesis. However, the positions of mandibular incisors and their spatial relationships with molars change with age. Our goal was to identify with high precision these relationships throughout skeletal growth and in older, skeletally mature animals. Mandibles from 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24-week-old, and 18-month-old C57BL/6J male mice, were collected and studied using micro-CT and histology to obtain incisal enamel mineralization profiles and to identify corresponding changes in ameloblast morphology during amelogenesis with respect to positions of molars. As reported here, we have found that throughout active skeletal growth (weeks 2-16) the apices of incisors and the onset of enamel mineralization move distally relative to molar teeth. The position of the transition stage also moves distally. To test the accuracy of the landmarks, we micro-dissected enamel epithelium from mandibular incisors of 12-week-old animals into five segments, including 1) secretory, 2) late secretory - transition - early maturation, 3) early maturation, 4) mid-maturation and 5) late maturation. Isolated segments were pooled and subjected to expression analyses of genes encoding key enamel matrix proteins (EMPs), Amelx, Enam, and Odam, using RT-qPCR. Amelx and Enam were strongly expressed during the secretory stage (segment 1), while their expression diminished during transition (segment 2) and ceased in maturation (segments 3, 4, and 5). In contrast, Odam's expression was very low during secretion and increased dramatically throughout transition and maturation stages. These expression profiles are consistent with the consensus understanding of enamel matrix proteins expression. Overall, our results demonstrate the high accuracy of our landmarking method and emphasize the importance of selecting age-appropriate landmarks for studies of amelogenesis in mouse incisors.

Disrupted Iron Storage in Dental Fluorosis

Enamel formation and quality are dependent on environmental conditions, including exposure to fluoride, which is a widespread natural element. Fluoride is routinely used to prevent caries. However, when absorbed in excess, fluoride may also lead to altered enamel structural properties associated with enamel gene expression modulations. As iron plays a determinant role in enamel quality, the aim of our study was to evaluate the iron metabolism in dental epithelial cells and forming enamel of mice exposed to fluoride, as well as its putative relation with enamel mechanical properties. Iron storage was investigated in dental epithelial cells with Perl’s blue staining and secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging. Iron was mainly stored by maturation-stage ameloblasts involved in terminal enamel mineralization. Iron storage was drastically reduced by fluoride. Among the proteins involved in iron metabolism, ferritin heavy chain (Fth), in charge of iron storage, appeared as the preferential target of fluoride according to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry analyses. Fluorotic enamel presented a decreased quantity of iron oxides attested by electron spin resonance technique, altered mechanical properties measured by nanoindentation, and ultrastructural defects analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The in vivo functional role of Fth was illustrated with Fth+/-mice, which incorporated less iron into their dental epithelium and exhibited poor enamel quality. These data demonstrate that exposure to excessive fluoride decreases ameloblast iron storage, which contributes to the defective structural and mechanical properties in rodent fluorotic enamel. They raise the question of fluoride’s effects on iron storage in other cells and organs that may contribute to its effects on population health.