Possible mechanisms of induction of dentinogenesis

The following hypothesis is proposed: The inner enamel epithelium influences all cells of the dental papilla very early during embryologic development--long before any morphologic changes due to histo-differentiation are noticeable. During normal odontogenesis, the epithelium acts as a second order inducer for the differentiation of odontoblasts and their subsequent production of dentin. Other mechanisms exist which can induce responding fibroblasts of the dental pulp to produce dentin or dentin-like tissue. Collagen matrix can act as such an inducer.