DEVELOPMENT OF TEETH IN EMBRYO The development of teeth starts when the embryo is just 6 weeks old.

One of the earliest steps in the formation of a tooth that can be seen microscopically is the distinction between the vestibular lamina and the dental lamina. The dental lamina connects the developing tooth bud to the epithelial layer of the mouth for a significant time. Tooth development is commonly divided into the following stages: the bud stage, the cap, the bell, and finally maturation. Bud stage The bud stage is characterized by the appearance of a tooth bud without a clear arrangement of cells. The stage technically begins once epithelial cells develops into the ectomesenchyme of the jaw. Typically, this occurs when the fetus is around 6 weeks old. The tooth bud itself is the group of cells at the end of the dental lamina. long with the formation of the dental lamina, !" round epithelial structures, each referred to as a bud, develop at the distal aspect of the dental lamina of each arch. These correspond to the !" deciduous teeth of each dental arch, and they signify the bud stage of tooth development. #ach bud is separated from the ectomesenchyme by a basement membrane. #ctomesenchymal cells gather together deep to the bud, forming a cluster of cells, which is the initiation of the condensation of the ectomesenchyme. The remaining ectomesenchymal cells are arranged in a more or less haphazardly uniform fashion. Cap stage The first signs of an arrangement of cells in the tooth bud occur in the cap stage. small group of ectomesenchymal cells stops producing e$tracellular substances, which results in an aggregation of these cells called the dental papilla. t this point, the tooth bud grows around the ectomesenchymal aggregation, taking on the appearance of a cap, and becomes the enamel %or dental& organ. condensation of ectomesenchymal cells called the dental follicle surrounds the enamel organ and limits the dental papilla. #ventually, the enamel organ will produce enamel, the dental papilla will produce dentin and pulp, and the dental follicle will produce all the supporting structures of a tooth.

'istologic slide of tooth in early bell stage. (ote cell organization. Bell stage The dental organ is bell)shaped during this stage, and the majority of its cells are called stellate reticulum because of their star)shaped appearance. T'# *#++ ,T -# ., /.0./#/ .(TO # 1+2 *#++ ,T -# 3 + T# *#++ ,T -#,. 4ells on the periphery of the enamel organ separate into three important layers. 4uboidal cells on the periphery of the dental organ are known as outer enamel epithelium. The columnar cells of the enamel organ adjacent to the dental papilla are known as inner enamel epithelium. The cells between the inner enamel epithelium and the stellate reticulum form a layer known as the stratum intermedium. The rim of the dental organ where the outer and inner enamel epithelium joins is called the cervical loop. Other events occur during the bell stage. The dental lamina disintegrates, leaving the developing teeth completely separated from the epithelium of the oral cavity5 the two will not join again until the final eruption of the tooth into the mouth. Crown stage / Maturat on 'ard tissues, including enamel and dentin, develop during the ne$t stage of tooth development. This stage is called the crown, or maturation, stage by some researchers. .mportant cellular changes occur at this time. .n prior stages, all of the inner enamel epithelium cells were dividing to increase the overall size of the tooth bud, but rapid dividing, called mitosis, stops during the crown stage at the location where the cusps of the teeth form. The first mineralized hard tissues form at this location. t the same time, the inner enamel epithelial cells change in shape from cuboidal to columnar. The nuclei of these cells move closer to the stratum intermedium and away from the dental papilla. The adjacent layer of cells in the dental papilla suddenly increases in size and differentiates into odontoblasts, which are the cells that form dentin. fter dentin formation begins, the cells of the inner enamel epithelium secrete an organic matri$ against the dentin. This matri$ immediately mineralizes and becomes the tooth6s enamel. Outside the dentin are ameloblasts, which are cells that continue the process of enamel formation5 therefore, enamel formation moves outwards, adding new material to the outer surface of the developing tooth.