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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.

Determination

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

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

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

Published on: November 13, 2013

Reptilian tooth development.

Joy M Richman¹, Gregory R Handrigan

¹Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. richman@interchange.ubc.ca

Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000)

|February 11, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Reptiles offer a novel model for studying tooth development and replacement. Their dental lamina and successional lamina provide insights into conserved molecular pathways and stem cell roles in tooth renewal.

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

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

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Published on: November 13, 2013

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

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Published on: May 7, 2016

Establishing Organoids from Human Tooth as a Powerful Tool Toward Mechanistic Research and Regenerative Therapy

Establishing Organoids from Human Tooth as a Powerful Tool Toward Mechanistic Research and Regenerative Therapy

Published on: April 13, 2022

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Evolutionary Biology
Comparative Anatomy

Background:

Vertebrate dental patterns exhibit vast diversity, yet tooth development research relies on limited model organisms.
Understanding tooth replacement mechanisms remains a key challenge in developmental biology.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish reptiles as a valuable model for investigating early dental specification and tooth replacement.
To review molecular patterning in reptilian dental laminae and enamel organs.
To explore the role of the successional lamina in tooth replacement and its potential implications for mammalian dentition.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on snake and reptile dental development.
Analysis of molecular signaling pathways, including Sonic hedgehog (Shh).
Comparative analysis of reptilian and mammalian tooth bud architecture.
Presentation of data on arrested tooth generation in agamid lizards.

Main Results:

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) plays a conserved role in marking the odontogenic band in reptiles.
Distinct molecular patterning along labial-lingual and oral-aboral axes specifies tooth-forming regions and the successional lamina.
Reptilian enamel organs possess a simpler architecture compared to mammalian tooth buds.
Evidence suggests arrested development of a third tooth generation in agamid lizards, potentially linked to reduced tooth replacement capacity.

Conclusions:

Reptiles are excellent models for studying conserved molecular mechanisms of tooth development and replacement.
The successional lamina in reptiles is crucial for tooth replacement and may offer insights into mammalian diphyodonty.
Putative dental epithelial stem cells, identified by label-retaining cells, likely contribute to continuous tooth replacement in reptiles.