Histological changes in dental pulp tissue with age: A comparative study

Abstract

The dental pulp undergoes several histological changes with age. These include a reduction in the number of cells and blood vessels, resulting in a decreased capacity for regeneration and repair. Furthermore, there is an increase in collagen fiber density and the formation of secondary dentin, which reduces the volume of the pulp chamber. The study has performed a comparative histological dissection to describe and characterize these age that are related changes in dental pulp tissues. A cross-section of samples was comparatively analyzed to examine the histological changes in dental pulp tissue from two distinct age groups, which are old and young ages, and then extracted teeth were thoroughly cleaned and immediately fixed in 10% formalin for preservation. Each single sample was decalcified by using 10% formic acid and for a duration sufficient to allow sectioning without damaging the tissue, and after decalcification, the teeth were embedded in paraffin wax, and serial sections, with a thickness of 4-6 μm, were prepared using a microtome. The sections have been then stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin to visualize general tissue structure. The histological analysis demonstrated notable differences in dental pulp tissue between the two age groups. Group A (young) samples showed a high cellularity, with numerous fibroblasts and odontoblasts and a clearly defined odontoblastic layer. However, Group B (elderly) samples exhibited a marked reduction in cellularity, with fewer odontoblasts present and evidence of increased fibroblast degeneration. The histological changes observed in our study underscore the impact of aging on dental pulp tissue.