Morphological study on the 'seams' in the multiroot formation of rat molar teeth.

'Seams' of the root furcation with multiroots in rat molar teeth, termed by Lester and Boyde, were investigated using transmitted light and scanning electron microscopy in the formation process. The seam was formed in the junctional line of Hertwig's epithelial root sheaths. The seam formation will be classified into three types in the initial stage based on the position of the epithelial root sheaths approaching each other: (1) the close junction or the very narrow slit or gap formed between them, (2) the clear gap containing mesenchymal cells and (3) the gap containing one blood vessel. When the roots were formed, the seam was formed as follows: (1) the slight ridge composed of the cellular cementum, (2) the proliferation or the depression in the dentine formation and (3) the accessory or lateral canal of the root. These structures were variously combined with each other into one seam, although the slight ridge was very common.