Effects of bone marrow transplantation on impacted dental germs in osteopetrotic op/op rats

The osteopetrotic op/op rats suffered from a complete failure of tooth eruption in association with a reduced bone resorption. An unresorbed occlusal bone overlaid the germs which remained embedded in bone. The process of prefunctional eruption in limited growing teeth depends on the resorption of the alveolar bone covering the germs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hematopoïetic grafts in newborn op/op rats on the process of prefunctional eruption. Fifteen op/op treated rats were used for radiographic, microradiographic and histologic examinations. After transfusion of bone marrow cells, we observed the restoration of bone resorption and a delayed eruption of the molars. The incisors never erupted. They developed odontome-like tumors near their apices. These results confirm the dependence of tooth eruption on bone resorption.