A polarized light and scanning electron microscopic study of human fissure and lingual enamel of unerupted mandibular third molars.

Using histological and ultrastructural techniques the aims of this study were to investigate whether the mineralization pattern and surface microanatomy of the caries-susceptible fissure enamel were different from those on the caries-inactive lingual surface. The material consisted of 31 unerupted third mandibular molars. The specimens were initially grouped into four categories: (1) without, (2) with initial, (3) with almost completed and (4) with completed root formation. One ground section with fissure-like morphology was selected from each tooth. Using water as a medium the observed birefringence was negative along the lingual and fissure transverses in specimens with almost completed and with completed root formation, while the observed birefringence was positive at different distances in the enamel in sections representing less maturation stages. Qualitative imbibition studies revealed hypomineralized enamel in the lower part of the fissures in specimens representing almost and completed root formation. Imbibed in quinoline, parts of the hypomineralized enamel behaved like a molecular sieve due to the presence of micropores, indicating that the structural arrangement is different from that in the enamel adjacent to this areas. After division of the sections into a lingual and a buccal part, SEM features were described from lower and upper parts of the buccal fissure wall and on lingual enamel in the area corresponding to the bottom part of the fissure. The surface microanatomy varied greatly. Negative developmental irregularities such as fissures and holes were associated with the immature enamel, while matured enamel - particularly fissures - housed many positive developmental irregularities such as enamel caps and protrusions. The crystal size in the mature specimens appeared smaller and more uniform than the crystals from the immature specimens. Apart from the occurrence of hypomineralized enamel in fissures and numerous positive developmental irregularities on the fissure surface, no major differences between fissure and lingual enamel were noticed, neither with respect to mineralization pattern during final stages of tooth development nor to the degree of surface porosity prior to tooth emergence.