As the major enamel matrix protein contributing to tooth development, amelogenin has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in tooth enamel formation. Previous studies have revealed amelogenin alternative splicing as a mechanism for amelogenin heterogeneous expression in mammals. While amelogenin and its splicing forms in mammalian vertebrates have been characterized, splicing variants of ame...

The crowns of matrix metalloproteinase 20 (Mmp20) null mice fracture at the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ), whereas the crowns of kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (Klk4) null mice fracture in the deep enamel just above the DEJ. We used backscatter scanning electron microscopy to assess enamel mineralization in incisors from 9-wk-old wild-type, Klk4 null, and Mmp20 null mice, and in developing pig ...

The organic material of our teeth consists of collagens and a number of calcium-binding phosphoproteins. Six of these phosphoproteins have recently been grouped in the family of the SIBLINGs (small integrin-binding ligand, N-linked glycoproteins), namely osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, dentin matrix protein (DMP1), dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEP...

BACKGROUND Amelogenins are the major components of enamel matrix proteins. Enamel matrix derivatives (EMD) can be used in periodontal diseases to regenerate periodontal tissues. The main aim of this study was to evaluate expression of full-length functional recombinant human amelogenin (rhAm) in Iranian lizard Leishmania (I.L.L.) as an alternative eukaryotic expression system. METHODS Human c...

Tooth 16 showed a fractured mesial marginal ridge that was undermined by caries (Figure 1). Following the placement of a rubber dam, the tooth was prepared and a medium-sized Class-II cavity resulted (Figure 2). In order to achieve optimum adhesion to enamel, it is essential to prepare the enamel margins in such a way that the enamel prisms are obliquely cut. This entails bevelling of the verti...

Periodontitis is a chronic destructive inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth which ultimately results in tooth loss if left untreated. Generally therapeutic approaches for treating periodontitis generally fall into two major categories, ie one to halt the progression of periodontal attachment loss, and the one designed to regenerate or reconstruct lost periodontal tissues....

OBJECTIVE Ethanol wet-bonding (EWB) technique has been stated to decrease degradation of resin-dentin bond. This study evaluated the effect of two EWB techniques on composite resin-to-enamel bond strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS Silicon carbide papers were used to produce flat enamel surfaces on the buccal faces of forty-five molars. OptiBond FL (OFL) adhesive was applied on enamel surfaces in...

During tooth development, ameloblasts differentiate from inner enamel epithelial cells to enamel-forming cells by modulating the signal pathways mediating epithelial-mesenchymal interaction and a cell-autonomous gene network. The differentiation process of epithelial cells is characterized by marked changes in their morphology and polarity, accompanied by dynamic cytoskeletal reorganization and...

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) designates a group of genetic diseases characterized by a large range of enamel disorders causing important social and health problems. These defects can result from mutations in enamel matrix proteins or protease encoding genes. A range of mutations in the enamel cleavage enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-20 gene (MMP20) produce enamel defects of varying severity. To...