Dr.

Asad Mahmood
B.D.S, M.Sc. (UK)
Associate Prof. & Head of Dept. Oral Biology
Lahore Medical & Dental College
Stages Of Amelogenesis

1. Pre-secretory Stage
1. Morphogenetic Phase
2. Differentiation phase

2. Secretory Stage

3. Maturative Stage
1. Transitional phase
2. Maturation proper

4. Post-maturation
 EARLY BELL STAGE
DENTAL LAMINA

OUTER ENAMEL EPITHELIUM

STELLATE
RETICULUM

STRATUM
INTERMEDIUM

INNER ENAMEL EPITHELIUM

DENTAL
PAPILLA

CERVICAL
LOOP

DENTAL
SAC
 EARLY BELL STAGE

OUTER ENAMEL EPITHELIUM

STELLATE
RETICULUM

INNER ENAMEL EPITHELIUM

DENTAL
PAPILLA

DENTAL
SAC
 1. PRE-SECRETORY
STAGE

 Further divided into two phases,

1. Morphogenetic phase

2. Differentiation phase
 Morphogenetic Phase

 Presence of basal lamina

 Cells of inner enamel epithelium are cuboidal or low

columnar

 Nucleus is centrally located and Golgi apparatus

poorly developed and located proximally (towards
stratum intermedium)

 Mitochondria and other cytoplasmic components are

scattered throughout the cell
 EARLY BELL STAGE

OUTER ENAMEL EPITHELIUM

STELLATE
RETICULUM

INNER ENAMEL EPITHELIUM

DENTAL
PAPILLA

DENTAL
SAC
 Differentiation Phase

 Cells of inner enamel epithelium elongate and their
nucleus shifts proximally towards stratum intermedium

 Golgi components increase in volume and migrates in

distally adjacent to dental papilla

 Alignment of ameloblasts by junctional complexes

between them

 These complexes play imp role by determining what may

or what may not pass between ameloblasts, becoming
tight or leaky according to the functional demands
 Differentiation Phase

 The cells of inner enamel epithelium can be termed as
‘pre-ameloblasts’ and they induce cells of adjacent dental
papilla to become odontoblasts and secrete first form
dentin of crown (Mantle dentin)

 With the initial formation of dentin there is breakdown of

basement membrane which separates the pre-
ameloblasts from dental papilla

 Initial signs of differentiation start at cusp tips or incisal

edges and gradually down the sides of the crown
 1. Secretory Stage

SUMMARY

 Cytodiffrentiation (differentiation to ameloblasts)

 Resorption of basal lamina

 Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions
 2. SECRETORY STAGE

 Enamel proteins synthesis by the rough endoplasmic
reticulum, then passed to golgi apparatus, condensed and
packed into membrane bound secretory granules

 These secretory granules are then transported to the distal

extremities of the cell(towards dentin) and released

 As soon as the enamel matrix is secreted it mineralizes

(30%) and initial layer of enamel does not contain enamel
rods.
 2. SECRETORY STAGE

 As the initial layer of enamel is formed the ameloblasts
migrate away from dentin surface which results in the
formation of conical projection called ‘TOMES
PROCESS’

 Tomes process has two parts,

 Proximal portion –extend from distal junctional complex to
the surface of enamel
 Distal portion– penetrates into enamel

 The rod and inter-rod configuration of enamel is the

property of ameloblasts and their tomes process
2. SECRETORY STAGE

2. SECRETORY STAGE

Secretory Stage

 2. SECRETORY STAGE

 Secretion from first site (proximal part) results in the
formation of enamel partition that delimit the pit, in
which resides the distal portion of tomes process. So
results in the formation of inter-rod enamel

 Secretion from the second site (distal part of tomes

process) results in the formation of enamel rods, as these
portions fill the pits

 Formation of inter-rod enamel is always ahead as it forms

the pits which later filled with enamel rods
2. SECRETORY STAGE

2. SECRETORY STAGE

2. SECRETORY STAGE

FORMATION of ROD & INTER
ROD ENAMEL

 2. SECRETORY STAGE

 The distal portion of tomes process becomes thinner as the rods
grow in diameter, press it along the walls of the inter rod and thus
the distal portion is eventually squeezed out of existence , creating
a narrow space between rod and inter-rod that fills with organic
material and is the region of Rod Sheath

 In the final stages of enamel formation (outer most layer ),

Ameloblast become shorter and losses its distal portion of Tomes
process and assumes the same shape as it has during the initial
enamel formation

 As rods are formed due to distal portion of tomes process so

enamel formed in beginning and final few increments of enamel
do not contain rods and is known as Aprismatic Enamel
INITIAL ENAMEL
FORMATION

 SECRETORY STAGE

SUMMARY

1. Initial layer aprismatic enamel formed

2. Ameloblast develop tomes process
3. Matrix secretion to final thickness
4. Initiation and continuation of mineralization 30%
5. Crystallite elongation
6. Matrix degradation
7. Development of prismatic structure
 3. MATURATION STAGE

 The stage during which enamel changes from lightly calcified
and organic rich state to final highly mineralized and poor
organic state is termed as maturation stage

 Newly formed enamel is about 30% mineral content and rest is

water and organic content, where as in mature enamel mineral
content increased to 96%

 Immature enamel ------- 90% amelogenins and 10%non-

amelogenins,
 whereas mature enamel ------- 90% non-amelogenins and 10%
amelogenins
 3. MATURATION STAGE

 increase in width and thickness of the pre-existing
enamel crystals

 average thickness of crystallites increases from

1.5nm to 25nm

 Calcium and phosphate ions move throughout the

ameloblasts into the maturating enamel and water
and degraded enamel proteins move in opposite
direction
 3. MATURATION STAGE

 Divided into two phases,

1. Transitional phase

2. Maturation proper
 Transitional Phase

 The period during which ameloblasts change from
secretory to maturation form is the transition phase

 After full thickness of immature enamel is formed,

ameloblasts undergo
 reduction in height of ameloblasts
 decrease in volume and their organelle content

 Ameloblasts undergo programmed cell death

(apoptosis) 50% of ameloblasts undergo apoptosis
 Maturation Proper

 Now the main activity of ameloblasts is to remove water and
organic material from enamel and allow introduction of
inorganic material

 Ameloblasts undergo ‘Modulation Cycle’ , creation, loss

and recreation of highly invaginated ruffle-ended apical surface

 There is alternative pattern of ameloblasts possessing ruffle

ended and smooth ended apical surface

 Modulation can be visualized by special stains and occur in

waves from region of least mature to more mature enamel
 Maturation Proper

 The signifance of modulation is that maintaining the
environment that allow growth of mineral content and
loss of organic matrix

 Modulation between two forms appears to occur between

five and seven times during maturation

 Modulation may indicate alternation between resorptive

phases, during which water and organic components are
removed, and secretory phases where mineral ions are
added to the maturing enamel
Smooth-ended & Ruffle-ended

MODULATION CYCLE

 Maturation Proper

 Ruffle-ended ameloblasts allow incorporation of
inorganic material

 Smooth-ended ameloblasts permit exist of proteins

fragments and water
 pH Regulation in
Amelogenesis

 Acidification associated with ongoing mineral accretion
during maturation causes ruffle ended ameloblast to
produce bicarbonate ions. This process continuously
alkalizes the enamel fluid to prevent demineralization of
the growing crystals and maintain pH conditions
optimized for functioning of the matrix degrading
enzymes, which prefer slightly acidic to near neutral
conditions.

 Interstitial fluids that may leak into maturing enamel

during smooth ended phase also contribute to the
neutralizing pH of the enamel fluid
 3. Maturation Cycle

SUMMARY

 Cycling of ruffled and smooth-ended ameloblasts

 Final degradation and withdrawal of matrix

 Crystal growth to completion

 Final third of mineralization after protein removal

complete
LIFE CYCLE OF
AMELOBLAST
 POST-MATURATION

 Ameloblast become flat and deposit thin amorphous
layer of protein ( primary enamel cuticle) which
separate cells from enamel

 This thin layer gives the appearance of basal lamina

 Ameloblasts attach to this basal lamina by means of

hemidesmosomes
 POST-MATURATION

 Ameloblastic layer and the adjacent stratified
epithelium (derived from stratum intermedium,
stellate reticulum and external dental epithelium)
together constitute the reduced dental epithelium

 Nasmyth’s membrane: the reduced dental

epithelium together with the primary enamel cuticle
constitutes the Nasmyth’s membrane
 POST-MATURATION

 Enamel covering established

 Eruption

 Exposure to oral environment and post eruptive

maturation
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