Biomaterial Database

Electron microscopic demonstration of non-mineralized and hypomineralized areas in dentin and cementum by silver methenamine staining of collagen. 1985

M E Matthiessen, and B Sögaard-Pedersen, and P Römert

An electron microscopic study on silver methenamine staining of hard dental tissues was made on a material that comprised human permanent teeth and primary tooth germs from human and porcine fetuses. It was demonstrated that silver-stained material consisted of collagen fibrils. In predentin and precementum all collagen fibrils were stained, while collagen fibrils of dentin and cementum were unstained except for some fibrils of minor special areas such as Owen's contour lines, interglobular dentin, Tomes's granular layer, and in cementum small "interglobular-like" areas. It is concluded that silver methenamine visualizes collagen fibrils of hypo- and unmineralized areas in dental hard tissues and therefore may be used to demonstrate abnormal patterns of mineralization. Finally variations of silver methenamine stainability in relation to differences in material and methods were studied and discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008709	Methenamine	An anti-infective agent most commonly used in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Its anti-infective action derives from the slow release of formaldehyde by hydrolysis at acidic pH. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p173)	Hexamethylenetetramine,Hexamine,Aminoform,Hexamine Silver,Methenamine Silver,Silver Methenamine,Urotropin,Methenamine, Silver,Silver, Hexamine,Silver, Methenamine
D008963	Molar	The most posterior teeth on either side of the jaw, totaling eight in the deciduous dentition (2 on each side, upper and lower), and usually 12 in the permanent dentition (three on each side, upper and lower). They are grinding teeth, having large crowns and broad chewing surfaces. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p821)	Molars
D009804	Odontoblasts	The mesenchymal cells which line the DENTAL PULP CAVITY and produce DENTIN. They have a columnar morphology in the coronal pulp but are cuboidal in the root pulp, or when adjacent to tertiary dentin.	Odontoblast
D003094	Collagen	A polypeptide substance comprising about one third of the total protein in mammalian organisms. It is the main constituent of SKIN; CONNECTIVE TISSUE; and the organic substance of bones (BONE AND BONES) and teeth (TOOTH).	Avicon,Avitene,Collagen Felt,Collagen Fleece,Collagenfleece,Collastat,Dermodress,Microfibril Collagen Hemostat,Pangen,Zyderm,alpha-Collagen,Collagen Hemostat, Microfibril,alpha Collagen
D003739	Dental Cementum	The bonelike rigid connective tissue covering the root of a tooth from the cementoenamel junction to the apex and lining the apex of the root canal, also assisting in tooth support by serving as attachment structures for the periodontal ligament. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992)	Cementoblasts,Cementum,Cementoblast,Cementum, Dental
D003804	Dentin	The hard portion of the tooth surrounding the pulp, covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root, which is harder and denser than bone but softer than enamel, and is thus readily abraded when left unprotected. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992)	Dentine,Dentines,Dentins
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001641	Bicuspid	One of the eight permanent teeth, two on either side in each jaw, between the canines (CUSPID) and the molars (MOLAR), serving for grinding and crushing food. The upper have two cusps (bicuspid) but the lower have one to three. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p822)	Premolar,Bicuspids,Premolars
D013552	Swine	Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA).	Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog