Transmission and scanning electron microscopical study of the epithelial cells in the early dental plaque formation

ABSTRACT

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy were used to study desquamated cells and leukocytes in the developing dental plaque. Dental plaque developed on hydroxyapitite epoxy resin splints attached to the buccal surfaces were removed at intervals of 2, 4, 6, 24, and 48 h. epithelial cells and leukocytes were found attached to the hydroxyapatite splint as early as tow hours after the splints were placed in the mouth. These cells generally had bacteria attached to their surfaces. The cells adsorbed to the splint seem to undergo morphologic alterations