The extent of the odontoblast process in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) as observed by scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Monkeys were perfused with Karnovsky phosphate-buffered formalin-glutaraldehyde (PBF-GTA). Molars were removed and postfixed in PBF-GTA, demineralized in EDTA, freeze-fractured, and critical-point dried. Odontoblast processes were observed in tubules of the predentine, the pulpal inner third of dentine and in the peripheral dentine, but not in the middle third. Peripheral processes showed close adaptation to dentinal tubules with branches penetrating into canaliculi close to the dentine-enamel junction.