Mineralization of Dental Calculus. ∗

Summary

Experimental studies have been made of mineralization in developing human dental calculus, formed in vivo on polyester strips attached to the teeth. The findings suggest a close parallelism between calcification process in this exogenous deposit and in calcified tissues. The microorganisms and intermicrobial substance first laid down serve as the organic matrix, which undergoes a series of chemical and morphological changes prior to mineralization. Calcification within this matrix follows a definite pattern, crystals first being laid down between and on surfaces of the bacteria, and later inside them.