Dr.G.

Thiruvenkadam
Post Graduate
Dept of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry
 SYNOPSIS
Introduction
Evolutionary concept
Stages of tooth evolution
Theories of development of teeth
Primary epithelial band
Dental lamina
Vestibular lamina
Tooth development
Morphologic stages of tooth development
Morphologic process and Physiological processes
Root formation
Molecular insights
Clinical considerations/Factors affecting development of dentition
 Introduction

Importance
Complex biological process
Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions
Morphogenesis
Fibrillogenesis
Mineralization
 Evolutionary concept

Polyphydont Diphydont
(many set of teeth) (two set of teeth)
Homodont Heterodont
(same set of teeth) (different types of teeth)
 Stages of Tooth Evolution
The reptilian stage(haplodont)
Simple conical teeth without ridges or tubercles.
Early mammalian stage(triconodont)
Teeth with three cusps
Triangular stage(tritubercular stage)
Teeth with three cusps or tubercles arranged in triangular
pattern
Quadritubercular stage
Having four cusps
Theories of origin of teeth

Theory of Concresence
Fusion of two or more primitive conical tooth
Theory of Trituberculy
Derived from single reptilian tooth by secondary
differentiation of tubercles and roots
Theory of Multituberculy
Result of reduction and condensation of primitive
tuberculate teeth
 Theory of trituberculy

Widely accepted theory

This hypothesis states that even the most
complicated molar tooth is formed from
single conical reptilian tooth
Put forth by American palaeontologist
Edward Drinker Cope and modified by Henry
Fairfield Osborn-commonly called Cope-
Osborn theory
Primary Epithelial Band

The primitive oral cavity or stomodeum is

lined by stratified squamous epithelium oral
ectoderm/primitive oral epithelium
Most of the connective
tissue cells underlying
the oral ectoderm are
neural crest or
ectomesenchyme in origin
 At about 6th week of fetal development, a continuous
band of thickened epithelium forms around the mouth
in both the future upper & lower jaws.

Fig.: Primary epithelial

band at the sixth
week of
intrauterine life.
 These bands of the epithelium are roughly horse-
shoe shaped structures. These correspond in
position to the future dental arches in the
presumptive upper & lower jaws
 Two concepts[development of primary
epithelial band]
a) oral ectoderm proliferate more rapidly
than adjacent areas
b) a change in orientation of the plane of
cleavage of the dividing cells
At 7th week
Primary epithelial
band

Inner/Lingual Outer/Buccal
process process

Dental lamina Vestibular lamina

Successional Also called Lip

lamina- Permanent Distal extension- Furrow Band
incisors, canines, permanent molars
premolars Forms oral vestibule
Dental Lamina

Deciduous dentition develops directly from

the dental lamina at the 8th week of fetal life
The successors of the deciduous teeth
develops from the lingual extension of the free
end of dental lamina called as successional
lamina.
Later during the development of the jaws, the
permanent molars arise directly from the distal
extension of the dental lamina.
 The dental lamina degenerates after initiation of
tooth development. Total functional activity
period of the dental lamina is around 5 years.
As the teeth continue to develop, they lose their
connection with dental lamina by mesenchymal
invasion.
Remnants of dental lamina in jaw and gingiva-
cell rest of Serres
Vestibular lamina

After the initiation of the dental lamina (7th

week), another epithelial structure is produced
exactly in the same manner and immediately
adjacent to the dental lamina.
It is the vestibular lamina also known as lip
furrow band, labial or buccal lamina,
buccogingival lamina forms the oral vestibule
between the alveolar process of the jaws and
the lips and cheeks.
 The oral epithelium in the lower jaw forms an
epithelial invagination separating the tongue from
the developing alveolar process termed the
linguoalveolar sulcus.
Tooth Development

Development of tooth results from interaction

of the epithelium derived from the first arch
with the ectomesenchymal cells derived from
neural crest cells.
At certain points along the dental lamina,
ectodermal cells multiply rapidly.
A little knob - Enamel organ
Morphologic stages

a) Bud stage
b) Cap stage
c) Bell stage
d) Advanced bell stage
Morphologic stagesPhysiologic
processes
Epithelial Mesenchymal
Interactions
Instructive component- epithelium
Dominant role & later determinant
ectomesenchyme
 Three hypothesis
A chemical substance ( short- range hormone) is
produced by one-cell layer and diffuses across the
narrow intervening space to be taken up and cause
induction in the other cell layer.
By direct cell-to-cell contact and does not involve
a diffusible molecule.
By cell to extracellular matrix interaction
Initiation of teeth of
different families- theories
Clone /Clade theory ectomesenchyme
segregated into three clades
Incisor, Canine, Molars
 Field theory- three separate graded fields in
the jaw for the three different families of teeth.
Thus a tooth bud
forming at a given
location develops
according to its
position within the
field.
Bud stage [Initiation]
Represented by 1st epithelial incursion into the
ectomesenchyme
Occurs at the beginning of 8th week of
prenatal development for the primary
dentition.
Delicate basement membrane
 As a result of increased mitotic activity and the
migration of neural crest cells ,the
ectomesenchyme surrounding the tooth bud
condense.
In areas where the teeth will not develop, the
dental lamina only remains thickened and later
disintegrates when oral mucosa comes to line the
oral cavity.
Central -Polygonal cells
Peripheral- Low columnar
cells
Cap stage [Proliferation]
Cellular density increases adjacent to
epithelial ingrowth
Shallow invagination of deep surface of the
tooth bud- forms cap shape
Cap stage is characterized by outer & inner
enamel epithelium & the stellate reticulum.
 Cuboidal cells cover the convexity outer
enamel epithelium
Tall ,columnar cells cover the concavity
inner enamel epithelium
Polygonal cells in the centre water drawn
from dental papilla polygonal cells become
star shapedStellate reticulum
Function of stellate reticulum
 Bell stage[histo &
morphodifferentiation]
The epithelium deepens , margins continue to
grow , enamel organ assumes a bell shape
Crown shape is determined in this stage
The determination of crown shape is under the
control of genes and their signalling molecules
and growth factors.
 Four different types of cells in enamel organ
Inner enamel epithelium
Stratum intermedium
Stellate reticulum
Outer enamel epithelium
Cervical loop junction
between inner and outer
enamel epithelium
 Inner enamel epithelium- differentiate in to
Ameloblasts
Exert organizing influence over underlying
mesenchymal cells in the dental papilla
Stratum intermedium squamous cells
between the inner enamel epithelium and
stellate reticulum
these cells show very high metabolic activity and
is essential for enamel formation
 At this stage dental lamina extend lingually
and is termed as successional lamina
Dental papilla- enclosed in the invaginated
portion of enamel organ.
The peripheral cells of mesenchymal dental
papilla differentiate into odontoblasts.
Membrana preformativa- the basement
membarne that separates enamel organ and the
dental papilla just prior to dentin formation.
 Dental sac- shows circular arrangement of its
fibres and resembles a capsular structure.
With the development of root these fibres
differentiate in to periodontal fibres and get
embedded in the developing cementum and
alveolar bone
Transitory structures
During the stages of tooth development few transitory
structures may be seen: the enamel knot, enamel cord
,enamel septum, enamel navel& enamel niche.
Enamel Knot: is a localized mass of cells in the centre
of the IEE, which forms a bulge into the dental
papilla at the centre of the enamel organ.

Signalling centre

Disappears by
apoptosis
Enamel Cord: is a strand of cells seen at the early bell
stage of development extending from the stratum
intermedium into the stellate reticulum.
act as a Mechanical tie

Enamel Septum:Enamel cord extends to meet the outer

enamel epithelium

Enamel navel: Point where the

enamel septum meets the OEE
shows a small depression, which
resembles the umblicus
 Enamel niche: In histological sections, it is apparent
structure created by cutting through a curved dental
lamina so that mesenchyme appears surrounded by the
dental epithelium.

Is seen where the tooth germ

appears to have a double
attachment to the dental
lamina through medial &
lateral enamel strands.
Advanced bell stage
Two more features of tooth development are seen:
1.Future dentinoenamel junction- forms from
the boundary present b/w the IEE & odontoblasts.
2. Hertwigs epithelial root sheath- develops
from the cervical portion of the enamel organ.
 Two important events :
Break up of the dental lamina
Discrete islands of epithelial cells
Crown pattern determination
Folding of internal dental epithelium
Apposition and maturation

The final stages of odontogenesis include

apposition during which the enamel, dentin &
cementum are secreted in successive layers.
They are initially secreted as a matrix, which
serves as a framework for later calcification
Maturation is reached when the dental tissues
subsequently fully mineralized.
1. Inner enamel epithelium differentiates into Preameloblasts
2. Cells of dental papilla lined along the basement membrane
1. Outer cells of dental papilla differentiates into odontoblasts
2. Dentinogenesis- deposition of predentin on the side of basement membrane
Root formation

The process of root development takes place

after the crown is completely shaped & the
tooth is starting to erupt into the oral cavity
The structure responsible for root development
is the cervical loop, most cervical portion of
the enamel organ; a bilayer rim that consists of
IEE & OEE.
The cervical loop begins to grow deeper into
the surrounding ectomesenchyme of the dental
sac & form Hertwigs Epithelial Root Sheath.
 This initiates the formation of dental root &
determines the number, shape, length &
dimensions of the root.
 There is difference in the development of
hertwigs epithelial root sheath with one root
and in those teeth with two or more roots.
Prior to the root formation root sheath forms
epithelial diaphragm
Differential growth of
the epithelial diaphragm
division of the root trunk
into two or three roots

Fig:- Epithelial diaphragm-for

multi rooted teeth
Formation of permanent
dentition
The secondary dentition forms essentially in
the same manner as the primary
Permanent incisors, canines and premolars
develop from the successional lamina
between 12th week in utero and 10th month
after birth
The permanent molars develop from the
distal extension of the dental lamina between
twentieth week for first molar and 5th year for
the third molar.
Coronal section at the early bell stage shows the successional lamina
Molecular insights

Regulatory genes
and their
signalling
molecules
particular to the
stage of tooth
development
were identified
 Tooth initiation potential:
Genes Msx-1, Msx-2
Signalling molecules Fgf-8, Bmp
Establishment of oral aboral axis
LIM homeobox lhx-6, lhx-7
Signalling molecules Fgf-8
Controlling tooth germ position
Fgf-8 acts antagonistically with the Bmp-4 to
specify the site of tooth initiation
Regulation of ectodermal boundaries
Shh , Wnt-7b
Patterning the dentition

Explained by field theory and clone theory

A subfamily of homeobox genes are
responsible for patterns of expression
Ex- Msx, Dlx,Barx
Factors Affecting
development of dentition
Systemic factors
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Hyperpituitarism
Hypopituitarism
Downs syndrome
Cleidocranial dysostosis
Hypovitaminosis A & D
Turners syndrome
 Local factors
Cysts and tumors of the jaw
Trauma
Congenital absence of tooth bud
Abnormal musculature
Related articles
 Mitsiadis 2006 - explain graded sequences in tooth
shape in mammals (incisors, canines, premolars,
molars) which change in evolution in a linked
manner, constant for each region. The classic
developmental models for shape regulation, known
as the regional field and dental clone models,
were inspired by the human dentition, where it is
known that the last tooth in each series is the one
commonly absent. The mouse, as a valuable
experimental model, has provided data to test these
models and more recently, based on spatial-
temporal gene expression data, the dental
homeobox code was proposed to specify regions
and regulate tooth shape.
Mitsiadis. How Do Genes Make Teeth to Order Through
Development?. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 2006;
306B:177 182
Irma Thesleff. Epithelial-mesenchymal signalling regulating tooth
morphogenesis.Journal of cell science 2003:1647-1648
References

Orbans Oral Histology and Embryology

A.R.Ten cate,B.D.S., Ph.D.; Oral Histology
Shobha Tandon;Textbook of Pedodontics
Mitsiadis. How Do Genes Make Teeth to
Order Through Development?. J. Exp. Zool.
(Mol. Dev. Evol.) 2006; 306B:177 182
Irma Thesleff. Epithelial-mesenchymal
signalling regulating tooth
morphogenesis.Journal of cell science
2003;jcs.00410:1647-1648