Morphological stages in tooth

development

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 Morphologic Stages

(Dental lamina formation)

Bud stage

Cap stage - early

Cap stage - late

Bell stage- early

Bell stage- advanced

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 Bud stage

Cap stage
Bell stage

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 Bud Stage
Ectodermal component

• Enamel organ has shape to a bud

• Two layers are seen

- Outer Cuboidal cells lining the periphery of bud.
- Central Polyhedral cells.

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

Ectomesenchymal components

• Dental Papilla
– Condensation of ectomesenchyme adjacent to enamel
organ.

• Dental sac
– Marginal condensation of ectomesenchyme surrounding
enamel organ and dental papilla.

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

Bud stage of tooth development

Stomatodeum

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU
 Oral ectoderm

Dental lamina

Central Polyhedral cells

Peripheral cuboidal cells

Ectomesenchymal cells

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 BUD STAGE

Oral ectoderm

Dental lamina

Central Polyhedral cells

Peripheral cuboidal cells

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU Ectomesenchymal cells

 Cap Stage
(at 11th week of IU life)

Ectodermal component

• Enamel organ enlarges and the shape changes to a cap

Three layers are seen

1. Outer enamel epithelium
lining the convex portion

2. Inner enamel epithelium

lining concave or invaginated part

3. Stellate reticulum

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 Cap Stage

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

• Early cap stage – central cells are polyhedral
cells(not yet transformed to star shaped cells)

• Late cap stage - central cells are transformed

to star shaped cells

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 Stellate reticulum/ enamel pulp.
The central polyhedral cells proliferate and increase number

Cells move away from its source of nutrition

Cells secrete glycosaminoglycans into the intercellular spaces

Hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans attract water

Widening of the intercellular compartment.

Cells are forced apart but retains intercellular junctions

Polyhedral cells Dept
October 5, 2018
change into star shaped cells.
of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU
 Functions of Stellate Reticulum

1. Mechanical protection: Beacause of rich content

of water and glycosaminoglycans, it act as a shock
absorber and protect the ameloblast layer (inner
enamel epithelium) from any type of mechanical
insult.
2. Nutrition: Because of high glycosaminoglycans,
this layer may act as a source of nutrition to the
neighboring cells, especially at the time when
there is a change in source of nutrition of
ameloblasts.
October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU
Ectomesenchymal components

• Dental Papilla
– Ectomesenchyme undergoes further proliferation and
condensation
– becomes partly enclosed in the invaginated portion.
– also shows active proliferation of blood vessels.
– is the main source of nutrition to the inner enamel
epithelium.

• Dental sac/follicle
– marginal condensation of the ectomesenchymal cells
enclosing the dental papilla and enamel organ
– This layer becomes denser and fibrous, forming a well-
formed structure
October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU
 Cap stage

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 Cap stage

Dental lamina

Oral ectoderm

Outer enamel epith

Stellate reticulum

Dental sac

Inner enamel epith

Dental papilla
October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU
 Cap stage

Oral ectoderm

Oral ectoderm

Outer enamel epithelium

Stellate reticulum

Dental Sac

Inner enamel epithelium

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU
Dental Papilla
 TRANSITORY STRUCTURES
1. Enamel Knot
• Cluster of non-dividing ectodermal cells, present as knob-like
projection at the deepest part of invagination of enamel organ
• Primary enamel knot - incisors and molar- cap stage
• Secondary and tertiary enamel knots – only molars- early bell stage
• Important role in regulating the patterning of the cusps and hence the
shape of the tooth crown.

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

• 2. Enamel cord - Condensation of ectodermal cells with elongated nuclei in a
linear pattern extending from enamel knot to the outer enamel epithelium.
• The attachment to outer enamel epithelium is close to the attachment of dental lamina to
enamel organ.
• May also be playing role in determination of crown pattern.

October 5, 2018
Enamel cord & Enamel Navel
Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU
• 3. Enamel septum: Sometimes the enamel
cord becomes thick in a bucco-lingual
direction forming a septum partly dividing the
enamel organ which is called enamel septum
• 4. Enamel navel: is a small invagination seen
in the area where the enamel cord joins the
outer enamel epithelium
• Enamel knot, cord and septum are formed due
to the rapid proliferation of the enamel organ cells
and act as reservoirs of extra cells, later contributing
them to the growing enamel organ.

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 5. Enamel Niche

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU

 5. Enamel niche:

• Is an apparent structure
• Niche - defect in an otherwise even surface.
• The dental lamina is a sheet of cells with irregular depressions
into which the surrounding ectomesenchyme is packed in. So
when the sections of developing teeth are prepared in a single
plane, it appear as the enamel organ is attached to the oral
epithelium by two dental laminae; one buccal and one lingual
separated by area filled with mesenchymal tissue and is referred
to as enamel niche.

October 5, 2018 Dept of Oral Pathology, YDC, YU