Oral Cavity-A Resilient Source for DNA Sampling.

ABSTRACT

Dear Editor, DNA is a double-stranded structure present inside the nucleus that carries all the inherited genomic information. Dental tissues are excellent sources of DNA as they show resistance to chemical and physical conditions.1 Dental enamel can withstand adverse conditions like humidity, microbial action, and high temperatures, thus preserving the enclosed DNA.2 DNA can be obtained from odontoblastic processes of dentin, cellular cementum, neurovascular tissues of the pulp, radicular canals, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone.3 A high concentration of DNA is found in the root body, then in the root tip, coronal body, and coronal tip. The pulp is rich in vascularity, which makes it a rich source of DNA. Cementocytes from cellular cementum are one of the DNA sources that are present within the extracellular matrix.4 In addition, the odontoblastic cell processes are rich in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).