The distribution of peritubular matrix in human coronal dentin

Thin semi‐serial ground sections of coronal dentin were examined radiographically. The bulk of the coronal dentin was characterized by the majority of the tubules having a distinct peritubular zone. With the exception of the tubules running from the tip of the cusp to the pulp cornu, the bulk of peritubular matrix forming the walls of the tubules was disposed eccentrically. The matrix was thicker on the cervical sides of the tubule than it was on the incisal sides. In a relatively narrow layer of the coronal dentin between the bulk of the dentin and the predentindentin border area the thickness of the peritubular matrix varied considerably. It was extremely narrow or absent in some tubules and reached its greatest thickness in others. The tubules in the predentin border area showed little or no evidence of peritubular matrix. The area of dentin beneath the central developmental groove differed somewhat from the bulk of the dentin. Many of the tubules at all levels of this area showed little radiographic evidence of peritubular matrix. Obliterated tubules were seen in some of the sections taken immediately above the predentin‐dentin border area in the region of the pulp cornu and were always seen at the junction of the mantle dentin and the circumpulpal dentin beneath the central developmental groove.