[Enamel pearls in the deciduous teeth].

A microradiographic study of 40 human deciduous teeth showed an unexpected high frequency (33%) of enamel pearls at the junctional interradicular line of the molars. An electron probe analysis showed that the composition of the pearls is similar to that of the coronal enamel. The pearls are located on normal dentine and are in contact with a hypermineralised layer separating cementum from dentine. It is hypothesised that the origin of this hyaline layer and the observed high frequency of pearls is not due to a possible differentiation of Hertwig sheath cells but results from variations of an usual biological process.