SOME ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF THE PERIODONTIUM OF THE DECIDUOUS AND PERMANENT DENTITION IN THE BEAGLE DOG

The present study describes some anatomical characteristics of teeth and periodontal tissues in the deciduous and permanent dentition of the beagle dog. Five animals were used. At the age of 10 weeks (Period A) and 15 months (Period B), respectively, a plaque control period was initiated. At the end of each plaque control period, clinical examinations were performed. Biopsies were obtained from the 02P, 03P (Period A) and P3, P4 (Period B) tooth regions and were examined with the light microscope. Histometric and morphometric measurements were made. The macroscopic and microscopic measurements revealed that marked differences exist between the teeth and the periodontiurn of the deciduous and the permanent dentition. The permanent premolar erupting into the position of the deciduous premolar was found to be significantly wider and higher than its precursor. Also the shape of the crown of the permanent premolar differed from that of the deciduous premolar. The sinuous contour of the buccal gingival margin was more accentuated in the deciduous than in the permanent dentition, The free gingiva was shorter and the periodontal ligament space was wider in the deciduous than in the permanent dentition. The free gingival unit in the deciduous dentition consisted of a larger volume of epithelium and a smaller volume of connective tissue than the corresponding unit in the permanent dentition. The connective tissue of the deciduous gingiva contained a larger proportion of fibroblasts and a lower proportion of collagen fibres than the corresponding tissue of the permanent gingiva. © 1990 Academic Press Limited.