The effect of two sucrose diets on formation of dentin and predentin in growing rats

Predentin thickness analysis in developing and developed permanent teeth

BACKGROUND

Predentin, the unmineralized organic matrix is important in maintaining the integrity of dentin. It is usually thick where active dentinogenesis occurs. A wide variation in its thickness is reported. Hence, we determined the variation in predentin thickness at various sites of different age groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

60 freshly extracted teeth (maxillary and mandibular first premolars) were divided into three groups with 20 teeth in each as, Group 1 - teeth with incomplete root formation (age <16 years), Group 2 - teeth with complete root formation (aged between 16 and 30 years), Group 3 - teeth of patients aged above 30 years. The teeth were fixed, decalcified and sections of 6 μ thickness were obtained, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The distance between the odontoblastic cell layers of the pulp to the border line of the dentin was considered for the measurement of the predentin thickness. A total of nine sites were considered for each specimen.

RESULTS

The present study revealed varied mean predentin thickness at all nine sites in all three age groups. Maximum and minimum thickness was observed at the apex and pulp floor respectively in all three groups. There was a statistical significant difference in predentin thickness between groups 1 and 3 and 2 and 3.

CONCLUSION

The predentin thickness in the first group gradually increased toward the growing end near the apex, while it was relatively constant in the second group and increased overall thickness at all the sites in the third group. A notable finding was a linear increase with age in width of the predentin and the thickness vary as a function of odontoblastic activity during different stages of tooth development.

The effect of fluorine and homeopathic medicines in rats fed cariogenic diet

Although some sectors of dentistry have benefited from technological advances, dental caries is still a major problem. Prevention and treatment of dental caries by fluorine is considered a major advance in public health. Nevertheless fluorosis, caused by ingestion of excessive amounts of fluorine during the period of teeth formation, is of great concern. In accordance with the homeopathic doctrine, minimum doses of fluorine and other substances could prevent and/or treat caries. In this experiment, we compared the preventive action of fluorine and evaluated the effect of homeopathic medicines on the teeth of rats fed a cariogenic diet. None of the groups included in this study developed caries. However, microscopy revealed the presence of precipitate and/or deposit in the groups treated with homeopathic medicines. This phenomenon might be due to deposit in the dental surface or precipitation of bacterial plaque or calcium salts. It was not possible to identify the composition of the deposit/precipitate due for technical reasons. In one of the groups treated with homeopathic medicines fur loss was observed in 40% of animals. These reactions might be caused due to the action of the homeopathic medicines.

Parotid gland function and dentin apposition in rat molars

Previous studies have clearly established the down-regulating effect of a sucrose-rich diet on primary dentinogenesis in rat molars. Earlier observation of the negative effect of a high-sucrose diet on a parotid function involved in the control of intradentinal solute movement led us to hypothesize that parotid gland function(s) may have a role in regulating dentinogenesis. Dentin apposition in 1st and 2nd molars of young rats was measured by planimetry in sagittal sections. The following experimental variables were tested: standard and high-sucrose diets, removal of the parotid or the submandibular/sublingual glands, and diets in powder or pellet form. Removal of the submandibular/sublingual glands and changes in diet consistency did not significantly affect dentin apposition. Dentin apposition was significantly depressed by the high-sucrose diet or following parotidectomy. A further decrease followed the combination of the two treatments. Parotid glands appeared to exert a positive effect on dentin apposition in rat molars.

Effect of dietary carbamyl phosphate on dentine apposition in rat molars

In rats, sucrose increases dental caries and impairs odontoblastic function by reducing dentine apposition during primary dentinogenesis. A high-sucrose diet also affects negatively a pulp or dentine function that appears to regulate solute or fluid movement within rat dentinal tissue. In earlier work it was found that carbamyl phosphate could significantly reverse sucrose-induced cariogenesis and also stimulate sucrose-depressed movement of dentinal fluid through a mechanism involving parotid function(s). In the current study, the possibility that carbamyl phosphate could overcome the sucrose-induced reduction in dentine apposition was examined. Weanling rats were fed a high-sucrose diet supplemented or not with carbamyl phosphate for 5 weeks. Dentine apposition was measured planimetrically in sagittal sections of the molars. The effect of carbamyl phosphate was similarly tested in parotidectomized animals. Carbamyl phosphate significantly reduced the deleterious effect of sucrose on dentine apposition by 58% in the first molars. However, the reduction in dentine apposition that followed parotidectomy was not altered by carbamyl phosphate supplementation. The possibility that the beneficial effect of carbamyl phosphate on dentinogenesis involves a parotid function is entertained.

The effect of sucrose diet of rat dams on the dentine apposition and dental caries of their pups

The purpose was to examine whether a sucrose diet in rat dams reduces dentine apposition and enhances dental caries in their pups. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomized into four groups on the day of birth. During the lactation period three dams received a standard rodent diet and three a diet containing 41% sucrose. At the age of 3 weeks the pups were weaned and given an intraperitoneal injection of oxytetracycline hydrochloride. During the experimental period, half of the pups of control dams received a sucrose diet (Cnt-Suc pups) and half of the pups of sucrose dams received a standard diet (Suc-Cnt pups). The pups in the other halves received the same diet as given to their dams during lactation (Cnt-Cnt and Suc-Suc pups). Urine samples were collected from dams and pups during the test periods. After 4 weeks the pups were killed, their blood was collected and their jaws sectioned sagittally. Dentine apposition was determined planimetrically and dental caries using Schiffs staining. Ca, K and Na of serum and urine were measured flame photometrically and P using an ultraviolet method. The lactational sucrose diet was associated with decreased P and Na excretion in the dams, and also with reduced dentine apposition in their pups. Reduced dentine apposition and induced Ca excretion with decreased P, K and Na excretions were observed in Suc-Suc pups and Cnt-Suc pups during the experiment period. Fewer intact teeth with more enamel and dentinal caries lesions occurred in sucrose-exposed groups (Suc-Cnt, Cnt-Suc and Suc-Suc pups). It was concluded that the sucrose diet given to dams during lactation changed the function of the pulp dentine complex of their pups leading to reduced dentinogenesis, but also predisposed to a reduction of dentinogenesis in pups during the experimental period and enhanced the occurrence of dental caries.