Ultrastructural study of apatite crystal dissolution in human dentine and bone.

The width and thickness of normal apatite monocrystals were determined in human dentine and alveolar bone on non-decalcified thin sections made perpendicular to the c axis. A mean width (L) of 364.50 A +/- 14.50 A and 562.10 A +/- 19 A was respectively found for dentine and bone monocrystals, whereas their mean thickness (E) was respectively 103.30 A +/- 2.70 A and 79.10 A +/- 3.10 A. The study of the ratio L.E.-1 for dentine and bone monocrystals showed a plate-like configuration which was more accentuated in bone crystals. Apatite crystal dissolution was studied during the carious process in dentine and bone resorption during advanced periodontal lesions. It could be shown that, in both conditions, one or several central core lesions developed along the c axis of the crystals. These central core lesions, extending laterally along (100) planes, progressively fused together, leading to the splitting up of the monocrystals into two thin plates by a complete destruction of the central part of the monocrystal.