Laminae, bud and cap stages

The dental laminae above the developing mandible and maxilla invaginate at sites corresponding to the location of the deciduous teeth.

The bud stage is the first canonical stage in the process of tooth formation and resembles a small rounded mass connected to the overlying epithelium. The bud is surrounded by ectomesenchyme.

The cap stage results from a differential rate of cell proliferation in the bud, resulting in a concave structure resembling a cup. At this stage of tooth development, histodifferentiation occurs leading to the formation of the enamel organ and dental papilla.

The enamel organ is formed from ectoderm during the cap stage of tooth development and consists of inner and the outer enamel epithelia.

The bulk of the ectomesenchymal cells that differentiate into the dental papilla will form the dental pulp.

The ectomesenchymal stem cells that line the outer most aspect of the apical part of the tooth germ form the dental follicle. These cells differentiate into cementoblasts that deposit cementum, fibroblasts that deposit collagen fibers as part of the periodontal ligament, and osteoblasts that deposit the alveolar bone.

The vestibular lamina is located in the lateral aspect of the primordial oral cavity. It extends a furrow that develops into the vestibule of the oral cavity.

This image was taken of slide in the University of South Dakota slide collection.