Collagen fibrils of human acellular extrinsic fiber cementum.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Bench research / in vitro ultrastructural morphometry on extracted human teeth
PubMed 18533789 · doi:10.1902/jop.2008.070482
What was done
Nine human premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons were decalcified, processed, and sectioned for transmission electron microscopy. Acellular extrinsic fiber cementum (AEFC) was analyzed in cross-section across four tooth aspects (buccal, lingual, mesial, distal) at two root levels (coronal and mid-root). A semicomputerized image analysis protocol was used to measure fibril diameter and size distribution.
What was found
Across nearly 251,000 analyzed collagen fibrils, average diameter ranged from 50 to 60 nm. Fibril diameter showed no statistically significant differences based on the root surface or level examined.
Why it matters
These baseline ultrastructural parameters define the native collagen architecture of human AEFC, providing target dimensions for biomimetic dental implant coatings intended to support functional periodontal attachment.
Limits
Samples were limited to 9 teeth, all premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons (likely from a younger cohort), which may not represent all tooth types or older populations. The apical root portion was not assessed, and functional or biomechanical properties were not tested.
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