SMPhU “Nicolae Testemitanu”

Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology

Amelogenesis,
Structure of Enamelum,

Assistant professor
PhD:
Mazuru Vitalie
 Amelogenesis
process of Enamel formation provided by Ameloblasts
During Amelogenesis ameloblasts become columnar, polarized,
secreting cell

at the moment of Eruption Ameloblasts cease their function,

decrease in volume and undergo gradually involution
 Ameloblasts life cycle

1. Morphogenetic
2. Differentiation
3. Secretory
4. Maturation
5. Protective
 Morphogenetic

During this stage, the cells

assume columnar shape
Develops RER
GA
Mitochondria
 Differentiation
Coincide with the moment
of the beginning of enamel
secretion.
Cells elongate (columnar)
Changes the polarity
 Differentiation
 RER and GA are above
the nucleus => secretory
AP and non-secretory BP.
 Arangement of actin
filaments forms two
terminal bars – basal and
apical.
 Organizing of the
epithelium (desmosomes,
tight and gap junctions)
 Secretory
 Most of the enamel
formation period
 ↑↑↑ RER, GA, Mtch
 Above the apical terminal
bar appears one elongation
– Tomes’ process
 Secretory
Tomes’ process responsible
for prisms formation
 Advanced secretory ameloblasts

Cells are highly polarized

Tomes’ process gives an

ruffled aspect to the enamel
surface
 Maturation

 Entire thickness of
Enamel has been
formed.
 E is 30% mineralised
 E crystals increase in
width and thickness
 Water and proteins are
removed
 Maturation
 Tomes’ process is lost
 Organelles reduced in number
 Appear two types AB
 Ruffle-ended (A)
 Smooth-ended (B)
 Alternates 6-7 times

A B
 Protective (Post-maturation) stage
 Enamel maturation is complete
 Cells become flattened
 Secrete primary E cuticle a type of
basement membrane between apical
surface and Enamelum
 Are formed many hemidesmosomes
 Protective (Post-maturation) stage

Other layers of
enamel organ merge
Forming Reduced
Epithelium
 Enamel formation

1. Organic matrix
formation
2. Mineralisation
Dissociation of BM – TF

Mutual induction
 Formation of enamel matrix

 Enamel matrix produced in

RER
 Enpacked in GA
 Transported to the TP
 Merocrine secretion
Sequential secretion (4µ/day)

Moving outward (4µ/day)

Appear incremental lines

 Mineralisation

Two stages
1. Instant partial (30%)
2. Complete (4 s/stages)
Sources of Ca2+
1. Ca2+ from dentine
2. Ruffle-ended AB
3. Tuftelinum
4. AlcPh-ase of IntEE
 Physical properties of the Enamel
- Covers the crown
- It is the thickest over the cusps
(1.3 - 2.5 mm thick), and the
thinnest at cervical margins
- Is the hardest biological tissue
- Has high abrasion resistance, but
low tensile strength
- Can undergo neither repair nor
replacement (final structure)
- Surface enamel is harder, denser
and less porous than subsurface
enamel
- The translucency of enamel
increases with age
Ground section of the tooth: Demineralised section:
Organic components are lost, while Organic components remain, while
mineral components remain. calcified are lost.
 Chemical properties

Non-organic SBST
96-98%
Calcium hydroxyapatite (88-90%)
Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 – crystallites
Fluoride
Chloride
Sodium
Strontium
Aluminium
Magnesium
Water
 Organic SBST
2-4%
Proteins:
Amelogenins
Enamelins (non-Amelogenins)

Carbohydrates
Lipids
 Enamel prisms (rods)

Enamel prisms cut longitudinally and running towards the surface

of the enamel.
Oblique lines – enamel stria
All 3 patterns are present in humans
Pattern I
 Pattern III
the most common in humans

This pattern shows clearly “head” and “tail” regions. The

tail is placed between the heads of 2 neighbors prisms
 The prisms meet the enamel surface at different angles
depending on the shape of EDJ and the thickness of enamel.

 Have sinusoidal arrangement

 Are organized in groups of 10-13 layers of prisms, that follow

the same direction, are blocked above and below by another
group of prisms that are oriented in different direction.

 These periodic changes in prisms direction give rise to a banding

pattern – Hunter-Schreger bands.
-Size of the bands ~ 50µm.

- are visible as different bands

of prisms that reflect the light
in different directions.

- the bands of prisms cut

longitudinally – parazones
(pale)
- the bands of prisms cut
transversally – diazones (dark)
The sinusoidal direction of the
enamel prisms in alternating
sheets results in alternately
reflecting bands on the cut
surface.
Hunter-Schreger bands

A. Diazone
B. Parazone
Hunter-Schreger bands
 Hunter-Schreger bands

“Gnarled” enamelum
The outer 20-100µm of enamel is prismless (aprismatic).
 Incremental lines

Enamel is formed incrementally, periods of activity alternating

with periods of quiescence.

This results in structural appearances known as incremental lines.

 Short period IL (cross-striation)

 Long period IL (enamel striae)
 Neonatal IL
 Cross-striation

Are seen as lines transversing

the enamel prisms at right
angles to their long axes.
 Enamel striae (Retzius lines)

Represent weekly enamel deposition

 Neonatal line
Is the largest Retzius line
Specific only for deciduous teeth
Is formed at birth
Reflects the metabolic changes at
birth
The most less mineralised enamel
 Surface enamel

Perikymata grooves
Perikymata ridges
Enamel caps
Enamel holes
On the lateral surface of
enamel, enamel striae
reaches the surface in a
series of fine grooves that
running circumpferentially
around the crown –
perikymata grooves.
Between them – P ridges
 Enamel caps

Surface elevations 10-15 µm across

Are thought to be enamel deposition on

top of non-mineralisable debris late in
development.
 Enamel holes

Surface depressions that results

from loss of caps and underlying
material.
 Enamel-Dentine Junction (EDJ)

A. Enamel tufts
B. Enamel spindles
C. Enamel lamellae
 Enamel spindles
Narrow, elongated tubules that extend
up to 25 nm into the enamel.
Represent hypomineralised areas
Are thought to be:
Distal edges of OB processes

Dentine collagen fibers

Remnants of dead OB
 Enamel tufts

Represent hypomineralised
enamel areas.

Have the same direction and

undulate the same like prisms.

Appears at 100µm intervals

along the junctions.
 Enamel lamellae
Hypomineralised enamel areas
that results from incomplete
maturation of groups of prisms.
Thereby, in these areas amount
of enamel proteins is much
higher. Are the most common
for the cervical area of the
tooth

Run through the entire

thickness of enamel.