Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, Vol 3, 185-206, Copyright © 1992 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Current concepts of the biology of tooth eruption
J. P. Gorski and S. C. Marks Jr
Division of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Basic Life Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City 64110-2499.
Tooth eruption is defined as the movement of a tooth from its site of
development within the jaws to its position of function within the oral
cavity. We present a critical review of evidence for the mechanisms and
regulation of the intraosseous and supraosseous phases of eruption, with an
emphasis upon the canine premolar model studied by the authors. Analyses at
different stages of premolar eruption indicate that selective fragmentation
of dental follicle protein DF-95 correlates with the presence of elevated
levels of follicular collagenase and stromelysin, and with the onset of
premolar movement. A dramatic decrease in these metalloproteinases followed
initiation of movement. A biochemical and cell biological model for
regulation of tooth eruption is proposed based upon these new and existing
data.
