[The aging of the human pulp-dentin organ]

239 noncarious human teeth, freshly extracted (from patients aged 10 to 78 years), were prepared in order to examine microscopically the effects of aging on the pulp-dentinal complex at crown and root level. Microscopical observations included the following elements: predentin, odontoblastic layer with capillaries, pulpal volume, fibro-dentin, collagen fibres, blood vessels, cells and pulpal calcifications. Results showed a gradual narrowing of the circumference of the pulp volume with increasing age, due to the continual apposition of dentin. Dystrophic or degenerating calcifications were also noted alongside compression of collagen fibres (giving an appearance of fibrosis). However, the radicular vascularisation is still effective by observing the persistence of an anabolic activity (fibrodentin apposition) at these levels. These findings demonstrate the physiologic and the pathologic evolution of the pulp-dentinal complex.