A HISTOMORPHOLOGIC STUDY ON THE RESORPTION AND SHEDDING OF PRIMARY TEETH

유치의 흡수와 탈락에 관한 조직형태학적 연구

The state of pulp and dental hard tissue during the process of resorption and shedding of 104 non-carious primary teeth was assessed by histomorphologic study. The teeth were extracted from the Korean school children aged 5 to 15 and classified into preshedding, shedding, delayed shedding groups according to the age of the child at the time of extraction, The results were as follows: 1. The inflammatory cell infiltration in primary pulp tissues occurred in 61.5% of observed teeth and were increased in the order of preshedding, shedding and delayed shedding stages. 2. The odontoclasts were appeared in 43.3% of observed teeth and were increased in the order of preshedding, shedding and delayed shedding stages. 3. The polymorphonuclear leukocytes and odontoclasts couldn't be observed in the exfoliated primary pulp tissues before the process of resorption has involved the root surface about 1.8mm subjacent to the cemento-enamel junction. 4. The intact root surface was the longest and largest in the preshedding stage. 5. The resorption process of primary teeth roots occurred mainly in the stage of preshedding and shedding stages. 6. There was a tendency of repair of resorbing root surfaces in the delayed shedding stage.