A STUDY ON FORMING PATTERN OF ENAMEL IN WHITE RAT INCISOR

This study was designed to investigate the changing depositional pattern of inorganic enamel substances during enamel formation and maturation. For this purpose, white rat incisors which continuously grow and develop during the life, were chosen as specimens. And after treated with 20% KOH solution, outer surface of forming inorganic enamel were observed with the scanning electron microscope, dividing into 6 types according to the forming pattern from apical to cuspal direction. The observations lead to the following conclusions: 1. During the initial enamel forming stage, inorganic enamel substances were deposited with very irregular pyramidal shape on the root dentin surface. 2. During the enamel forming stage, inorganic enamel substances were deposited with relatively regular hexagonal, honey-comb appearance. 3. During the later enamel forming stage, inorganic enamel substances were deposited with very irregular and roughly amorphous appearance. 4. During the later enamel maturating stage, very small and round inorganic enamel substances were deposited densely, and made a flat enamel surface.