The orientation and direction of rods in dental enamel

Enamel rods are commonly accepted as perpendicularly oriented to the tooth surface and this concept has influenced the design of cavity preparations. This investigation studied the orientation and direction of enamel rods at the outer third of the enamel plate. Fifteen human molars were randomly selected and sectioned in the buccolingual, mesiodistal, and coronal directions. Angulations of the rods at the outer surface were measured by use of a protractor superimposed on the micrographs taken by scanning electron microscope. The mean angulation for axial surfaces was 60 degrees. The enamel rods were consistently parallel to the long axis of the tooth with 55-degree mean angulation. The conclusion was that enamel rods are not perpendicular to the surface except at the edge of the cusps and occasionally at the cervical area.