Silness,J, Gustavsen,F, Fejerskov, O, Karring, T, Loe, H; Cellular, A Fibrillar Coronal Cementum in Human Teeth. J. Periodont. Res. 11:331, 1976.

Aim

• Reports presence of lacuna's mineralized tissue with morphological characteristics of coronal cementum contained within the tissues in unerupted teeth. The present paper reports on the presence of a lacunar mineralized tissue with morphological characteristics of coronal cementum contained within the fissures of unerupted human teeth.
• Minimum of 24 unerupted third molars; buccal lingual sections examined with the use of light microscopic and microradiographic exams, and electron microscopy.

Findings

• Results showed plugs of mineralized tissues found in fissures within the enamel in 16 out of the 24 teeth extracted.
• the plugs appeared more radiolucent than the surrounding enamel and the plugs appeared to be rested on dentin in decalcified sections.
• the plugs appeared as finely granulated and radiolucent material.
• EM showed needle crystals smaller than E crystals.

The disappearance of the reduced enamel epithelium form the fissures of unerupted third molars frequently brings the connective tissue cells into contact with the enamel. Under these conditions the mesenchyme may transform into cementum producing cells, cementoblasts, which after having been surrounded by the cementum matrix are transformed to cementocytes residing in the lacunae of the fissure plug tissue.

Significance is that this study demonstrates the plausibility of fibrillar cementum with its matrix as being produced by the cementoblasts and anchoring the collagen fibrils which themselves are produce by fibroblasts.

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