Development of Tooth and Its

Supporting Tissues
Learning Objectives
• Review of Tooth and Its Supporting Tissues.
• Review of Dental Arches.
• Primary Epithelial Band.
• Dental Lamina.
• Vestibular Lamina.
• Stages of Tooth Development
Bud stage
Cap stage
Bell stage
Primary Epithelial Band
• 37th day of development
• A continuous band of thickened
epithelium forms around mouth in
presumptive upper and lower jaw.
• Horse shoe shaped.
• Corresponds in position to the future
dental arches of both upper and lower
jaw.
Epithelial Band
Epithelial
band

Ectomesenchymal
cell
• This band is the result of:
• Increased proliferative activity within
epithelium
• Change in orientation of mitotic spindle
• Cleavage plane of dividing cells
Division of Primary Epithelial Band
Vestibular
Dental lamina
lamina

Shortly after
Forms first dental
lamina

Vestibule of
Tooth
mouth
 DENTAL LAMINA

Continuous Series of
On Site of
and epithelial
anterior position of
localized outgrowth
aspect of future
proliferative into the
dental deciduous
activity ectomesen
lamina teeth
occur chyme

Three stages of tooth

development
Vestibular Lamina
Proliferation of
After formation of vestibular lamina into Vestibular lamina cells
dental lamina ectomesenchymal rapidly enlarge
cells occur

Vestibule between
check and tooth Form a cleft Degenerate
bearing area
Initiation of Tooth Development
• Signals mediating initial steps in tooth development
• Early mesenchymal marker for tooth formation are:
Lim-homeobox* domain genes. Lhx-6, Lhx-7
• Expressed in neural crest derived ectomesenchyme on oral half of first branchial arch at
day 9.
• Paired box homeotic gene(TF)
• Define localization of tooth germs.
• More than 90 genes have been identified from oral, dental epithelium and dental
mesenchyme during initial tooth development.
* Any of several genes that shares a common sequence of DNA and are involved in regulation of
morphogenesis
Genes expressed during tooth development
Tooth type determination
• Determination of specific tooth
types at their correct positions in
the jaw is called Patterning Patterning
of the dentition. of Dentition
• Two hypothetical models.

FIELD CLONE
MODEL MODEL
FIELD MODEL
• Statement
• Factors responsible for tooth shape
resides within the ectomesenchyme
in distinct graded and overlapping
fields for each tooth family.
• Each field expresses different
combination of patterning homeobox
genes support this theory.
• Epithelial FGF-8, BMP-4 induce
expression of genes in underlying
mesenchyme.
Odontogenic Homeobox Code Model

CANINE &
INCISORS MOLARS
PREMOLARS

Msx-1,
Dlx-1/-2 Barx-1
Msx-2
Msx-1 Dlx-1/-2
Alx-3
CLONE MODEL
• Statement
Each tooth class is derived from a clone of ectomesenchymal
cells which are programmed by epithelium to produce teeth of a given
pattern.
 A. Molar clone C. Next tooth bud is
ectomesenchyme B. After clone reaches
critical size initiated when progress
induce dental lamina to zone escape the
initiate tooth Tooth bud is initiated at influence of zone of
development its center inhibition
DEVELOPMENT OF TOOTH
Primary
epithelial band

Vestibular Dental
Lamina Lamina

BUD
vestibule
stage

CAP
stage

BELL
stage
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

BUD STAGE CAP STAGE BELL STAGE

I. BUD STAGE
• First epithelial invasion into the
ectomesenchyme of the jaw.
• Epithelial cells show little change in
shape or function.
• Supporting mesenchymal cells are
closely packed beneath and around
epithelial bud.
BUD TO CAP TRANSITION
• Marks the onset of morphologic differences between tooth germs
that gives rise to different types of teeth.
• Msx-1, Bmp-4 expressed in mesenchymal cells that condense
around tooth bud.
• Pax-9 expressed in mesenchyme during bud to cap transition.
• Activin-bA and Msx-1 mark site of tooth formation.
CAP STAGE
a. Condensation of ectomesenchyme

Epithelial bud proliferate

into ectomesenchyme

Cellular density increases

around epithelial
outgrowth

Local grouping of
ectomesenchymal cells
which have failed to
produce extracellular
substance
b. Lateral lamina (successional lamina)
Tooth bud grows larger

drag along with it part Lateral lamina

of dental lamina

On that point it is
connected to dental
lamina by an extension

LATERAL LAMINA
c. Enamel Organ
• Epithelial outgrowth resembles a
cap sitting on a ball of condensed
ectomesenchyme.
• Forms enamel of the tooth
 Dental Papilla & Dental Follicle

Dental • Ball of condensed

ectomesenchymal cell

Papilla • Form dentin and pulp

• Condensed ectomesenchyme

Dental limiting dental papilla and

encapsulating enamel organ
• Supporting tissue of the
Follicle tooth
Dental Organ or Tooth Germ
Enamel
organ

Dental organ
or
Tooth germ
Dental Dental
papilla follicle or
sac
Cap stage tooth germ
Histodifferentiation
• A mass of similar epithelial cells transforms itself into
morphologically and functionally distinct component.
Synthesis and secrete
GAG hydrophilic and
Cells in the center of glyconsaminoglycans
pull water into
enamel organ extracellularly
enamel organ
between cells

Central cells are

Star shaped forced apart Amount of fluid
Called Stellate Retain connection inside enamel organ
Reticulum with each other via increases
desmosomes
Enamel KNOT
• Cluster of non dividing epithelial
cells in cap stage tooth germ.
• Each tooth germ has single primary
enamel knot
• Secondary enamel knot appears in
molar at future cusp tip.
• Fgf-4 and slit-1 are best molecular
marker for knot formation.
• Significance:
Serves as organizational center which
orchestrates cuspal morphogenesis.
Produces FGF which induces
proliferation of adjacent epithelium
ENAMEL CORD
• Enamel knot extending between
inner and outer enamel epithlium
• It directs and binds to enamel
knot.
• Its function is associated with
enamel knot. Enamel
cord
 Lateral
d. ENAMEL NICHE lamina

• It is an artifact produced during

sectioning of tissue during
histologic preparation
• Created as dental lamina is a
sheet of proliferating cells not a
single strand
• Contains concavity filled with
connective tissue
(ectomesenchyme)
III. BELL STAGE
• enamel organ resembles a bell as
the undersurface of epithelial cap
deepens.
a. Morphodifferentiation
Tooth crown assumes its
final shape
b. Histodifferentiation
Cells making hard tissues of
crown acquire distinctive
phenotype
ENAMEL ORGAN
• Outer enamel epithelium
o At the periphery of enamel organ
o Low cuboidal shape
• Inner enamel epithelium
o Border on the dental papilla
o Short columnar cells
o High glycogen content
• Cervical loop or zone of reflexion
o Regions where outer and inner epithelial
cells meet at the rim of enamel organ
• Stellate Reticulum
• Stratum intermedium
o Cells between inner epithelium and stellate
reticulum
o High alkaline phosphatase activity
EARLY BELL STAGE
Outer Enamel Epithelium
• Low cuboidal
• Little cytoplasm
• Free ribosomes
• Few RER
• Few mitochondria
• Few tonofilaments
• Junctional complexes join
adjacent cells
• Stellate reticulum cells
• Star shaped
• Connected to each other, OEE cells,
stratum intermedium by desmosomes.
• All organelles (fewer in number)
 • Stratum intermedium

*Increased metabolic activity is due to acid

mucopolysaccarides, alkaline phospophates and
glycogen
• Inner epithelial cells
• Low columnar cells
• Centrally placed nucleus
• Cystoplasm contains:
• Free ribosomes
• Few RER
• Mitochondria
• Tonofilaments
• Golgi complex towards stratum
intermedium
• High glycogen content
 Dental Papilla
• Ball of condensed ectomesenchymal cells
• Acellular zone
• Prior to dentin formation Dental papilla is
separated from enamel organ by a basal lamina
called ‘’membrana preformativa’’
• From basal lamina fine aperiodic fibrils extend into
this zone
• First secreted enamel matrix protein accumulate
there

• Dental papilla cells are undifferentiated

mesenchymal cells
• Contains all organelles
• Dental papilla becomes dental pulp when first
calcified matrix appears at future cusp tip of
bell stage tooth germ.
Fragmentation of Dental Lamina
• Dental lamina join tooth germ to the oral epithelium
• When it breaks up tooth germ develop separately and
independently from oral epithelium
• Erupting tooth re establish its connection with oral epithelium
at the time of eruption by junctional epithelium.
 Fragmentation
of Dental
Lamina

Discrete cluster
of epithelial
cells

Some may
persist as Degenerate
normally
Epithelial Pearls

Supernumarary
Eruption cyst Odontomes
teeth
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Folding of Inner Enamel Epithelium
This point is Site
of future cusp
Inner epithelial Mitotic division Cell division development
cells (intrinsic growth) ceases at a point
(growth center)

Followed by
Differentiation
deposition of Cells begin to
sweeps down
dentin and differentiate
the cusp slope
enamel
Folding of Inner Epithelial Cells
Reciprocal Induction
Inner Epithelial cells
Ameloblasts

TGF-b1, BMP, IGF

ENAMEL

Induce undifferentiated
ectomesenchyme of odontoblasts
dental papilla

DENTIN
 Hard Tissue Formation
• Histodifferentiation
• Inner Epithelial cells Ameloblasts
Enamel
• Dental papilla cells Odontoblasts
Dentin
• Polarized cell
• IEE cells reverse polarity Ameloblasts
• Embryonic base becomes functional apex
• Embryonic apex becomes Functional base
 ROOT FORMATION
Cervical loop
• Point at which OEE and IEE cells
meet
Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath
• IEE and OEE cells proliferate
from cervical loop of enamel
organ to form double layer of
cells
• Single rooted tooth formation
• Hertwig’s sheath extend around dental
pulp between dental follicle and dental
pulp encloses all but basal portion
of the pulp.
• Rim of root sheath(epithelial
diaphragm) encloses primary
apical foramen.
• IEE initiate differentiation of
odontoblast from ectomesenchymal
cells at the periphery of dental papilla
and form dentin of the root.
Multirooted tooth
• Imagine root sheath as collar or skirt hanging from enamel organ.
• Two tongues of epithelium growing towards each other from this collar
• Primary apical foramen is converted into two secondary apical foramina.
• If three tongues are formed three secondary apical foramina form
• Formation of pulpo-periodontal canals at the site of fusion of epithelial
tongue.
Epithelial cell rests of malassez
Number of discrete
Hertwigs
Fragmentation cluster of epithelial
root sheath
cells form

These cluster are

Persists Epithelial separated from
within the cell rest of surrounding
PDL Malassez connective tissue
by a basal lamina

Epithelial lining
of dental cyst
when
inflammation of
PDL occur
Tooth Eruption
Soon after root
formation

Tooth begin to erupt

(axial direction)

Escape from bony crypt

Pass thru lining mucosa

of oral cavity

Till it assume its position

in occlusal plane
ERUPTION OF TOOTH
Resorption of Crown passes thru
REE oral
Bone overlying connective tissue
epithelium fuse
erupting tooth of mucosa

Central cells in Form a solid mass

Form an epithelial
this mass of epithelial cells
canal
degenerate over tooth crown

Thru which tooth Formation of

crown erupts dentogingival
(no hemorrhage) junction
Vascular Supply
• Cluster of blood vessels rafimy
around tooth germ in dental follicle

• Enter dental papilla during cap stage

• Point they enter dental papilla are
arranged in group at point where
root forms

• Bell stage number of vessels reaches

maximum
Vascular Supply
• Before first dentin formation
• enamel organ receives blood supply from
dental papilla and dental follicle
• When dentin is formed
• Supply from dental papilla is cut off

When enamel formation begins

Inner epithelial cells receive blood supply
from papillary layer
NERVE SUPPLY
BUD to • Dental follicle
Cap • Nerve fibers ramify and form
Stage rich plexus around tooth germ

• When dentin formation begins

Bell
• Nerve fibers enter dental
stage papilla
• Autonomic nerve fibers are absent from pioneer nerve fibers reaching
tooth germ.
• Initial innervation of developing teeth is sensory innervation of PDL
and pulp.
• NO nerve fibers enter enamel organ
FORMATION OF PERMANENT DENTITION
• Arises from dental lamina
Tooth germ that gives rise to incisor
canine and premolars

Arise from further proliferative activity

of dental lamina at deeper extremity

Another tooth bud forms on lingual

aspect of dental lamina
 • Molars of Permanent dentition
• Have no deciduous predecessor

Dental lamina burrows

When jaw grows long posteriorly Beneath lining
epithelium of oral mucosa into
ectomesenchyme

These epithelial
outgrowths along Gives epithelial
with outgrowth into
ectomesenchyme ectomesenchyme
form tooth bud

First molar
Second molar
Third molar
Timing of primary and permanent dentition
formation
Primary • Initiated Between 6th and 8th week of
Dentition embryonic development

Successional • 20th week in utero and 10th month

permanent teeth after birth
Permanent • 20th week in utero (first Molar) and 5th
molars year of life (3rd Molar)
Development of supporting tissues

Dental follicle

Cementoblast Fibroblasts Osteoblasts

PERIODONTAL ALVEOLAR BONE

CEMENTUM (BUNDLE BONE)
LIGAMENT
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Thank You