Histology of human cementum: Its structure, function, and development

Abstract

SummaryCementum was first demonstrated by microscopy, about 180 years ago. Since then the biology of cementum has been investigated by the most advanced techniques and equipment at that time in various fields of dental sciences. A great deal of data on cementum histology have been accumulated. These data have been obtained from not only human, but also non-human animals, in particular, rodents such as the mouse and rat. Although many dental histologists have reviewed histology of human cementum, some descriptions are questionable, probably due to incorrect comparison of human and rodent cementum. This review was designed to introduce current histology of human cementum, i.e. its structure, function, and development and to re-examine the most questionable and controversial conclusions made in previous reports.

Differences between biological and chronological age‐at‐death in human skeletal remains: A change of perspective

“…Tooth cementum is avascular and grows strictly by apposition at a very slow rate (Bosshardt, ). There are different types of cementum along the root, varying according to their function and location (Foster & Somerman, ; Yamamoto et al, ; Yamamoto, Hasegawa, Yamamoto, Hongo, & Amizuka, ). They are differentiated by the presence or absence of embedded cementoblasts and whether the origin of collagen fibers is intrinsic or extrinsic.…”

“…Extrinsic origin means that the fibers, also known as Sharpey's fibers (Bosshardt, ), come from the periodontal ligament (PDL). Intrinsic origin means that collagen fibers are produced by cementoblasts, and consequently do not protrude from the cementum into PDL space (Yamamoto et al, ).…”

Age at death estimation by cementochronology: Too precise to be true or too precise to be accurate?

“…Like bone, cementum is composed of an organic and a mineral matrix, but unlike bone, this avascular and not innervated tissue exhibits little or no remodeling processes throughout life (Saygin, Giannobile, & Somerman, ). Types of cementum are characterized by specific structures and developments related to their distinctive functions (Schroeder, ; Yamamoto, Hasegawa, Yamamoto, Hongo, & Amizuka, ). The adaptive role of cellular cementum and its heterogeneity lead cementochronological studies to exclusively focus on acellular extrinsic fiber cementum (AEFC) characterized by constant growth rate (Sequeira, Bosshardt, & Schroeder, ).…”

Intravenous bisphosphonate therapy does not thicken cementum or change periodontal ligaments of cancer patients

“…In addition, the values of cementum thickness in the test group are similar to the normal values in adult patients found in the literature, which increase with age and often range from 50-1,500 mm, depending on the anatomic region of the dental root. [23][24][25] In support of these findings, the lack of detectable differences in the number of cementum incremental lines, PDL inflammation, and PDL fibroblasts distribution between the 2 studied groups suggest that IV BP exposure does not lead to changes in the micromorphology of the cementum and PDL in cancer patients.…”