Enamel pearls: ultrastructural feature and hypothesis of morphogenesis

Abstract

Five enamel pearls were examined by Scanning Electron Microscope. Some external pearls presented a bare enamel surface, others were covered by a thin layer of cementum.

The enamel pearls showed irregular dystrofic enamel surface or a thin layer without structure, rows of irregular Tome’s processes pits, enamel caps and focal holes. Some enamel pearls revealed little areas of enamel surface resorption like-resorbing lacunae with, in some cases, areas of tissue repair.