Human tooth development

Human Tooth Development

Human tooth development or odontogenesis is the complex process by which teeth form from embryonic cells, grow, and erupt into the mouth. For human teeth to have a healthy oral environment, all parts of the tooth must develop during appropriate stages of fetal development. Primary (baby) teeth start to form between the sixth and eighth week of prenatal development, and permanent teeth begin to form in the twentieth week.

Stages of Tooth Development

Tooth development is commonly divided into the following stages: the bud stage, the cap stage, the bell stage, and finally maturation.

Bud Stage

The initial stage of tooth development is the bud stage. This stage is characterized by the formation of a tooth bud without any clear organization. The tooth bud is an aggregation of cells that eventually forms a tooth. It is the first sign of tooth development and it occurs in the dental lamina.

Cap Stage

The cap stage follows the bud stage. It is named for the cap-like appearance of the developing tooth. During this stage, the cells of the tooth bud divide and are differentiated into specific tooth cell types.

Bell Stage

The bell stage is the third stage of tooth development. During this stage, the tooth shape is fully formed, and the different cell types continue to differentiate and develop.

Maturation Stage

The final stage of tooth development is the maturation stage. During this stage, the tooth hardens and the cells within the tooth become fully differentiated. This stage continues until the tooth erupts into the mouth.

Tooth Eruption

Tooth eruption is the process by which a tooth enters the mouth and becomes visible. It is not the same as tooth growth, which is the formation of the tooth itself.

See Also

• Dental anatomy
• Tooth eruption
• Tooth enamel
• Dental pulp