DEVELOPMENT OF

TEETH
Dr. Mbira
• Teeth begin to form by week 6 in utero from epithelium of the oral
cavity covering the mandible and maxilla as well as the underlying
mesenchyme derived from neural crest cells.
• The 2 layers interact with each other under the regulation of HOX
genes, fibroblast growth factors, bone morphogenetic proteins and
sonic hedgehog factor to regulate and designate the shape and type
of tooth. This is regulated in an area at the tip of the developing tooth
called the enamel knot.
• The enamel knot later disappears as the tooth forms.
• Initially there is a lamina covering the jaws both upper and lower in a C
shape called the dental lamina.
• The dental lamina then forms 10 buds in each jaw which are the precursors
of the teeth.
• The inner surface of the buds invaginates to form the dental cap which has
an outer and inner layer ; the outer and inner dental epithelium respectively.
• Between these 2 epithelia is a layer of loosely woven cells called the stellate
reticulum.
• At the centre of the dental bud is a mesenchymal layer derived from neural
crest cells called the dental papilla.
• The point of formation of the double layered dental cap from the
dental bud is called the cap stage(week 10) of tooth development.
• With further growth the tooth now resembles a bell and this is known
as bell stage( week 12).
• At this point, the mesenchyme cells in the papilla adjacent to the
inner dental layer differentiate into odontoblasts which form dentin.
This dentin will continue to be formed for life.
• The other cells of this mesenchyme form the pulp of the tooth.
• Cells of the inner dental epithelium differentiate into enamel forming
cells called ameloblasts. These lay enamel covering the dentine
beginning from the tip of the tooth before gradually laying enamel
over the rest of the tooth( week 24).
• After laying enamel, the ameloblasts sink into the stellate reticulum
leaving a thin layer over the enamel that sloughs off after the tooth
erupts.
• Tooth eruption will occur after birth from around the 6th month to 2
years.
• The 2 dental epithelial layers penetrate the underlying mesenchyme
to begin formation of the root of the tooth.
• Dental papilla cells continue to form dentin and as more of it is
formed, the pulp is narrowed to eventually remain as a narrow canal
containing blood vessels and nerves.
• Mesenchyme cells surrounding the dentin form 2 important layers
that help to anchor the tooth to the jaw:
• Cementum – thin layer of specialized bone next to the tooth.
• Periodontal ligament – on the outside of the cement layer, holds the tooth
firmly in place and acts as a shock absorber.
• In the 3rd month, tooth buds for permanent teeth form on the
lingual/medial aspect of the deciduous teeth. They remain dormant
until about the 6th year of life when they start to develop and grow
pushing up and out the milk teeth.
• As the milk teeth is being pushed up and out, its root is resorbed by
osteoclasts.
*Natal teeth
*Flourosis
*Tetracyclines effect on development of teeth