334 



S. N. BHASKAR 



Fig. 14. Enamel of the crown of a permanent tooth (lower right) is sepa- 

 rated from the root of a deciduous tooth bv connective tissue. The deciduous 

 root shows Howship's lacunae. (X 6.) 



which contain multinucleated giant cells. It is apparent that the 

 part of the deciduous roots which first undergoes resorption depends 

 upon the location of the permanent tooth and the direction in which 

 it is moving. The process is much more complicated in the area of 

 the bicuspids than it is in the incisor region of the maxilla and the 

 mandible. This is because the anterior teeth are single-rooted, 

 whereas in the bicuspid area the multi-rooted deciduous teeth are 

 replaced by multi-rooted successors. 



It is apparent from the description that during shedding of teeth, 

 as in eruption, the remodeling of bone plays an essential role. Not 

 only is the resorption of the bonv crypt of the deciduous tooth es- 

 sential for the eruption of the permanent successor, but after the 

 latter has erupted, the formation of a new socket and a new suspen- 

 sory ligament must occur. Unless this new socket is formed through 

 a process of remodeling, the new tooth is virtually useless. 



