Research Article
A Combinatorial Approach to Regenerate the Periodontal Ligament and Cementum in a Nondental Microenvironment
Figure 2
Fabrication and evaluation of the rat treated with dentin matrix (TDM). (a, b) Molars harvested from 3-month-old rats; (c) single root dissected; (d) the untreated dentin matrix (UDM) was obtained by removing the outer cementum, periodontal ligament, and the inner dental pulp; (e) after ultrasonic cleaning and gradient demineralization by EDTA solution; size measurement of the root (f, g) and the fabricated TDM (h); H&E staining showed complete removal of the outer periodontal ligament and cementum, as well as the cell components (k, l); SEM examination revealed that TDM (i, j) showed better exposure of dentinal tubules compared with the UDM (m, n), and the diameters of the TDM dentinal tubules were significantly larger than the UDM (q). (o, p) The comparison of the diameter and the length of the root, UDM, and TDM ().