The presence of an inhibitor of human skin collagenase in the roots of healthy and periodontally diseased teeth: changes that occur with age.

The amount of anti-collagenase in the root has been reported in a group 18 to 35 years of age. Healthy roots had more than the diseased; and apical more than the cervical. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of age on these values. In a group 50 to 92 years of age, all values were markedly higher than in the younger group. In addition, all relationships between values were preserved. These include location and presence of disease. The higher levels might be due to an aging process or a protective defense against collagenase in the gingival crevice.