Surface structure of tooth germs from newborn infants: a light and scanning electron microscopical study

Tooth germs from the mandibles of 5 stillborn infants were examined by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy in order to investigate the surgace structure at different stages of mineralization. The surface of the completed enamel of the incisal third of the incisors was smooth, indicating that amelogenesis was at an end. The interface relief between ameloblasts and enamel matrix on the remaining part of the incisors, and on the forming cusps, was characterized by numerous deep pits caused by the Tomes' processes of the ameloblasts. When parts of the organic matrix were removed by sodium hypochlorite, the crystals were exposed as needle-shaped structures. Towards the bases of the cusps the pits gragually smoothed out, continuing as a narrow even surface zone corresponding to the first formed aprismatic enamel. In this zone circular holes 1 micronm were encountered which the light microscope studies showed were dentinal tubules passing into the enamel. At the bases of the cusps there was a rather abrupt demarcation toward a surface zone exhibiting countless slender villi. The light microscope observations indicated that these villi represented the first formed dentine after the basement membrane had disappeared.