ERUPTION PATHWAY FORMATION IN PRESENCE OF EXPERIMENTAL TOOTH IMPACTION IN PUPPIES

Eruption of permanent premolars in puppies was studied by implanting stainless steel wires through the mandible to stop eruptive movement well before the teeth were to appear in the oral cavity. Histologic and radiologic comparisons of operated with normal (unoperated) sides disclosed that the eruptive pathway forms for the impacted teeth although their eruptive movements were effectively prevented. This clearly shows that the mechanism of eruption pathway formation is not dependent upon direct and continual pressure on the bone from the erupting teeth. The genesis of pathway formation appeared to be the same for the impacted teeth as for the controls i.e., through continued ostetoclasis in the margin of the stalk of the dental follicle. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.