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Teeth

Teeth

The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...

Tooth Anatomy

Tooth Anatomy

The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Analysis of Developing Tooth Germ Innervation Using Microfluidic Co-culture Devices

Analysis of Developing Tooth Germ Innervation Using Microfluidic Co-culture Devices

Published on: August 14, 2015

Possible involvement of maspin in tooth development.

Purevsuren Davaadorj¹, Reiko Tokuyama, Shinji Ide

¹Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.

Histochemistry and Cell Biology

|November 12, 2010

Summary

Maspin, a tumor suppressor, is crucial for tooth development. It is expressed in ameloblasts and odontoblasts, regulating extracellular matrix formation essential for enamel and dentin.

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Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Analysis of Developing Tooth Germ Innervation Using Microfluidic Co-culture Devices

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Published on: August 14, 2015

The Slice Culture Method for Following Development of Tooth Germs In Explant Culture

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Published on: November 13, 2013

Accessing the Cytotoxicity and Cell Response to Biomaterials

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Published on: July 8, 2021

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Developmental Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Maspin is a serine protease inhibitor with known tumor suppressive and anti-angiogenic roles.
While maspin's expression is documented in various tissues, its function in skeletal and tooth development remains largely unexplored.
Previous research indicated maspin's involvement in bone extracellular matrix formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of maspin in tooth development.
To determine the expression pattern of maspin during tooth germ formation.
To assess the functional impact of maspin inhibition on dental tissue development.

Main Methods:

Immunohistochemical analysis of human and rat tooth germs.
Organ culture of rat mandibular first molars with anti-maspin antibody treatment.
Cell proliferation assays using odontogenic epithelial and dental papilla cell lines.
RT-PCR analysis to evaluate gene expression in dental papilla cells.

Main Results:

Maspin is expressed by active ameloblasts and odontoblasts during human tooth germ development.
Maspin expression was detected in rat enamel epithelial cells and dental papilla cells during early tooth development.
Inhibition of maspin using neutralizing antibodies impaired dental tissue formation and reduced cell proliferation.
Maspin inhibition suppressed the expression of key matrix genes like DMP1, DSPP, and OPN in dental papilla cells.

Conclusions:

Maspin plays a significant physiological role in tooth development.
Maspin expression in ameloblasts and odontoblasts is vital for regulating extracellular matrix formation in dental tissues.
These findings highlight maspin as a potential target for understanding and potentially treating dental developmental abnormalities.