[Desmodont remains after tooth extraction in digital image processing]

Breakage of the dentoalveolar gomphosis during tooth extraction results in varying amounts of desmodont remaining at the surface of the root. By dying the remnants of desmodont with toluidine blue, the surface of the root can be made accessible to computerized optical analysis. After clinically induced extraction of 102 human teeth, and after the loosening of 24 sheep teeth by mechanical vibration, the remaining area of desmodont was compared to that of the entire surface. Except in one case, no parameters were found to influence the amount of desmodont. However, tooth extraction in sheep previously treated with ultrasound or low-frequency vibrations demonstrate more desmodont-free areas.