Ultrastructure of the Human Odontoblast Process and Its Mineralisation during Dental Caries

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Abstract
A transmission electron microscope and electron diffraction study of the inner layer of human dentine carious lesions adjacent to the transparent zone has shown no sign of degeneration of the odontoblast processes which were rich in microfilaments, microtubules and large vacuoles. Intratubular calcification occurred either by an initial mineralisation of the periodontoblastic space followed by the calcification of the odontoblast process or by an initial intracytoplasmic calcification followed by a secondary periodontoblastic mineralisation. Initial inorganic crystalline deposits in the periodontoblastic space consisted of whitlockite with the presence of hydroxyapatite at later stages.