Tooth development 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, enamel, dentin, cementum, and the periodontium must all develop during appropriate stages of fetal development. Primary teeth start to form between the sixth and eighth weeks in utero, and permanent teeth begin to form in the twentieth week in utero.

 Overview

The tooth bud (sometimes called the tooth germ) is an aggregation of cells that eventually forms a tooth.These cells are derived from the ectoderm of the first branchial arch and the ectomesenchyme of the neural crest.The tooth bud is organized into three parts: the enamel organ, the dental papilla and the dental follicle.

The enamel organ is composed of the outer enamel epithelium, inner enamel epithelium, stellate reticulum and stratum intermedium.These cells give rise to ameloblasts, which produce enamel and the reduced enamel epithelium. The location where the outer enamel epithelium and inner enamel epithelium join is called the cervical loop. The growth of cervical loop cells into the deeper tissues forms Hertwig's Epithelial Root Sheath, which determines the root shape of the tooth.

The dental papilla contains cells that develop into odontoblasts, which are dentin-forming cells. Additionally, the junction between the dental papilla and inner enamel epithelium determines the crown shape of a tooth. Mesenchymal cells within the dental papilla are responsible for formation of tooth pulp.

The dental follicle gives rise to three important entities: cementoblasts, osteoblasts, and fibroblasts. Cementoblasts form the cementum of a tooth. Osteoblasts give rise to the alveolar bone around the roots of teeth. Fibroblasts develop the periodontal ligaments which connect teeth to the alveolar bone through cementum.

Maxillary Third Permanent Molar

They are the teeth most often congenitally missing

Facial: The crown is usually shorter in both axial and mesiodistal dimensions. Two buccal roots are present, but in most cases they are fused. The mesial buccal cusp is larger than the distal buccal cusp.

Lingual: In most thirds, there is just one large lingual cusp. In some cases there is a poorly developed distolingual cusp and a lingual groove. The lingual root is often fused to the to buccal cusps.

Proximal: The outline of the crown is rounded; it is often described as bulbous in dental literature. Technically, the mesial surface is the only 'proximal' surface. The distal surface does not contact another tooth.

Occlusal: The crown of this tooth is the smallest of the maxillary molars. The outline of the occlusal surface can be described as heart-shaped. The mesial lingual cusp is the largest, the mesial buccal is second in size, and the distal buccal cusp is the smallest.

Root Surface:-The root may have from one to as many as eight divisions. These divisions are usually fused and very often curved distally.

Disturbances to interarch alignment are

a. Excessive overbite where the incisal edge of the maxillary incisors extend to the cervical third of the mandibular incisors

b. Excessive overjet where the maxillary teeth overjet the mandibular teeth by more than 3mm

c. End-to-end relationship: edge-to edge bite where the anterior teeth meet at there incisal edge with  no overjet or overbite; cusp-to bite where the posterior teeth meet  cusp to cusp with no interdigitation

d. Crossbite where the normal faciolingual relationship of the maxillary to the mandibular teeth is altered for the anterior.teeth. the mandibular  tooth or teeth are facial  rather than lingual to the maxillary teeth for the posterior teeth, normal inercuspaton is not seen

Compensating curvatures of the individual teeth.

- the gentle curvature of the long axes of certain posterior teeth to exhibit a gentle curvature.

-These are probably analogous to the trabecular patterns seen in the femur and therefore reflect lines of stress experienced during function.

Posteruptive tooth movement.

These movements occur after eruption of the teeth into function in the oral cavity. These movements, known collectively as occlusomesial forces.

A. Continuous tooth eruption eruption of teeth after coming into occlusion. This process compensates for occlusal tooth wear.. Cementum deposition and progressive remodelling of the alveolar bone are the growth processes that provide for continuous tooth movement

B. Physiological mesial drift :Tthe tendency of permanent posterior teeth to migrate mesially in the dental arch both before and after they come into occlusion. Clinically, it compensates for proximal tooth wear.

(1) It describes the tendency of posterior teeth to move anteriorly.

(2) It applies to permanent teeth, not deciduous teeth.

(3) The distal tooth have the stronger is the tendency for drift.

(4) It compensates for proximal wear.

(5) In younger persons, teeth drift bodily; in older persons, they tip and rotate.

(6) Forces that cause it include occlusal forces, PDL contraction, and soft tissue pressures. There may be other more subtle factors as well.

Height  of Epithelial Attachment

The height of normal gingival tissue . mesiallv and distallv on approximating teeth, is directly dependent upon the height of the epithelial attachment on these teeth. Normal attachment follows the curvature of the cementoenamel junction if the teeth are jn proper, alignment and contact.

Dentin

1. Composition

a. Inorganic (70%)—calcium hydroxyapatite crystals.

b. Organic (30%)—water and type I collagen.

2. Types of dentin

a. Primary dentin

(1) Dentin formed during tooth development, before completion of root formation.

It constitutes the majority of dentin found in a tooth.

(2) It consists of a normal organization of dentinal tubules.

(3) Circumpulpal dentin

(a) The layer of primary dentin that surrounds the pulp chamber.  It is formed after the mantle dentin.

(b) Its collagen fibers are parallel to the DEJ.

b. Secondary dentin

(1) Dentin formed after root formation is complete.

(2) Is deposited unevenly around the pulp chamber, forming along the layer of dentin closest to the pulp.

It therefore contributes to the decrease in the size of the pulp chamber as one ages.

(3) It consists of a normal, or slightly less regular, organization of dentinal tubules. However,

as compared to primary dentin, it is deposited at a slower rate.

(4) Although the dentinal tubules in secondary dentin can be continuous with those in primary

dentin, there is usually a tubular angle change between the two layers.

c. Tertiary (reparative, reactive) dentin

(1) Dentin that is formed in localized areas in response to trauma or other stimuli such as caries, tooth wear, or dental work.

(2) Its consistency and organization vary. It has no defined dentinal tubule pattern

d. Mantle dentin
 

(1) The outermost layer of dentin
(2) Is the first layer of dentin laid down by odontoblasts adjacent to the DEJ.

(3) Is slightly less mineralized than primary dentin.

(4) Has collagen fibers that are perpendicular to the DEJ.

(5) Dentinal tubules branch abundantly in this area.

e. Sclerotic (transparent) dentin

(1) Describes dentinal tubules that have become occluded with calcified material .

(2) Occurs when the odontoblastic processes retreat, filling the dentinal tubule with calcium phosphate crystals.

(3) Occurs with aging.

f. Dead tracts

(1) When odontoblasts die, they leave behind empty dentinal tubules, or dead tracts.

(2) Occurs with aging or trauma.

(3) Empty tubules are potential paths for bacterial invasion.

3. Structural characteristics and microscopic features:
 

a. Dentinal tubules

(1) Tubules extend from the DEJ to the pulp chamber.

(2) The tubules taper peripherally (i.e., their diameters are wider as they get closer to the pulp). Since the tubules are distanced farther apart at the periphery, the density of tubules is greater closer to the pulp.

(3) Each tubule contains an odontoblastic process or Tomes’ fiber.

Odontoblastic processes are characterized by the presence of a network of microtubules, with

Occasional mitochondria and vesicles present.

Note: the odontoblast’s cell body remains in the pulp chamber.
 

(4) Coronal tubules follow an S-shaped path, which may result from the crowding of  odontoblasts as they migrate toward the pulp during dentin formation.

b. Peritubular dentin (intratubular dentin)

(1) Is deposited on the walls of the dentinal tubule, which affects (i.e., narrows)the diameter of the tubule .

(2) It differs from intertubular dentin by lacking a collagenous fibrous matrix. It is also more mineralized than intertubular dentin.
 

c. Intertubular dentin

(1) The main part of dentin, which fills the space between dentinal tubules

 (2) Is mineralized and contains a collagenous matrix.

d. Interglobular dentin

(1) Areas of hypomineralized or unmineralized dentin caused by the failure of globules or calcospherites to fuse uniformly with mature dentin.

(2) Dentinal tubules are left undisturbed as they pass through interglobular dentin; however,

No peritubular dentin is present.

(3) Interglobular dentin is found in the:

(a) Crown—just beneath the mantle dentin.

(b) Root—beneath the dentinocemental junction, giving the root the appearance of a granular

layer (of Tomes).

e. Incremental lines

(1) Dentin is deposited at a daily rate of approximately 4 microns.

(2) As dentin is laid down, small differences in collagen fiber orientation result in the formation of incremental lines.

(3) Called imbrication lines of von Ebner.

(a) Every 5 days, or about every 20 µm, the changes in collagen fiber orientation appear more

accentuated. This results in a darker staining line, known as the imbrication line of von

Ebner.

(b) These lines are similar to the lines of Retzius seen in enamel.

f. Contour lines of Owen

(1) An optical phenomenon that occurs when the secondary curvatures of adjacent dentinal tubules coincide, resulting in the appearance of lines known as contour lines of Owen.
 

(2) Contour lines of Owen may also refer to lines that appear similar to those just described; however, these lines result from disturbances in mineralization.

g. Granular layer of Tomes

(1) A granular or spotty-appearing band that can be observed on the root surface adjacent to the dentinocemental junction, just beneath the cementum.