Deciduous Dental Pulp Enzymatic Activity

Deciduous teeth are a valid masticator organ during the period of their limited, genetically determined lifetime. They are formed in a much shorter period of time, compared with the permanent teeth. The aim of the present study was to examine the enzymatic activity of the dental pulp in the deciduous teeth, and to compare their activity in the phase of root resorption. The pulps used for this investigation were obtained from intact teeth of healthy children, aged 5 to 9 years, extracted for orthodontic reason (20 deciduous teeth without signs of physiological resorption, and second group - 20 deciduous teeth with physiological resorption). The enzyme activity was determined, according to spectrophotometric methods by: Mc Comb and Bowers for alkaline phosphatase activity; Bergmeyer and Bernt for lactate dehydrogenase activity; and Andersch, Szcypinski and Fishman for acid phosphatase. The results obtained in this study showed specific enzymatic activity with high values in deciduous teeth, which certainly was an expression of large synthetic pulp ability. Values of activity decreased with the beginning of the resorption. Enzymes, which are actively participating in the metabolism (lactate dehydrogenase), as well as in synthesis (alkaline phosphatase), can increase their specific activity in conditions of progressive physiological root resorption, because of the discontinuity, in the periods when the reparatory component dominates. Enzymes are responsible for tissue destructive changes (acid phosphatase); they increase significantly with the development of the resorption. Key Words: Deciduous Teeth; Root Resorption; Dental Pulp; Alkaline Phosphatase; Acid Phosphatase; Lactate Dehydrogenas