INVESTING ORGANIC LAYERS

ON ENAMEL SURFACE
Dr Saqlain Bin Syed Gilani
Introduction
• Organic layer/integument
• Before eruption the crown is covered by the overlaying
oral mucosa, coronal part of dental follicle and vestiges of
the enamel organ
• After eruption/emergence in the oral cavity parts of the
integument originated from the enamel organ are lost due
to attrition or abrasion
 Unerupted Teeth

ORAL MUCOSA

DENTAL FOLLICLE

REE

ENAMEL SPACE
Erupted Teeth
Reduced
LOST due to
Enamel
abrasion/attrition
Epithelium

Primary Acquired
Enamel Cuticle Pellicle
Acquired Pellicle
• The acquired pellicle is a biofilm, free of bacteria,
covering oral hard and soft tissues. It is composed of
mucins, glycoproteins and proteins, among which are
several enzymes.
Pellicle Formation
• Adsorption of components from saliva, crevicular fluid and
bacteria onto the enamel surface
• First stage involves instantaneous adsorption of proteins
onto the surface (10 – 20 nm thick)
• Ca+ ions have a stronger affinity to dissolve in saliva as
compared to Phosphate ions
• Ca ions move to the saliva where as phosphate onto the
enamel surface
• Positive negative electrostatic interaction occurs
Composition
• Proteins
• PRPs
• Histatin
• Statherine etc.
• Carbohydrate
• Glucose
• Fucose
• glucosamine
• Lipids
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol
Functions
• Lubrication
• Tooth surface lubrication
• Aids in mastication
• Aids in speech
• Semipermiable barrier
• Acts as a barrier to maintain the integrity of enamel by preventing
demineralization and facilitating remineralization
• Protection against bacterial demineralization
• Mineral Homeostasis
• Pellicle proteins can act as inhibitors for surface induced precipitation of
calcium salts onto enamel thus providing mineral homeostasis at the
enamel saliva interface
• Modulation of bacterial adherence
• Selectivity of bacterial attachment to the enamel surface
Dental Plaque
• Combination of bacteria embedded in salivary proteins
and bacterial products superimposed on the AEP
• Houses various communities of bacteria
• Early plaque: Gram +, facultative, anaerobic, filamentous
• Later plaque: Gram -, cocci, rods and many motile forms
• Microbial composition varies from person to person and
tooth to tooth
Dental Calculus
• Mineralized dental plaque
• Salivary rich in ions
• Salivary inhibitors • 60% mineralized
• Dark color
• Bacterial cessation of inhibitors leads to mineraliztion
Subgingival • Found near the salivary
gland openings

• 40% mineralized
• Cream color
Supragingiva
• Inflammatory exudate
l
References
• The structure, function & properties of the acquired
Pellicle M. Hanning, A. Joiner
• Investing organic layers pages 123 – 128 Berkovitz
• GOOGLE