 Ameloblasts: Enamel-secreting cells derived from the inner enamel epithelium of the enamel

organ.
 Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs): A large family of biological growth factors.
 Β-catenin: A key protein involved in the intracellular mediation of canonical Wnt signaling.
 Cementoblasts: Cementum-secreting cells derived from the dental follicle.
 Cervical loop: Region of convergence between the inner and outer enamel epithelia, which
rapidly proliferates and maps out the early tooth root.
 Dental follicle: Neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells which give rise to the cementum and
periodontal attachment of the mature tooth.
 Dental lamina: Band of epithelial tissue which gives rise to the enamel organ.
 Dental papilla: Neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells which give rise to the dentin and pulp
of the mature tooth.
 Dentin: Specialized mineralized tissue which supports the enamel in the crown and constitutes the
bulk of the root of the mature tooth.
 Dentin-pulp complex: Region within the mature tooth which includes the pulp and surrounding
dentin.
 Differentiation: Process whereby a cell becomes a more specialized type.
 Enamel: Highly specialized hard tissue which covers the crown of the mature tooth.
 Enamel organ: Epithelial component of the tooth germ, which gives rise to the enamel of the tooth
crown.
 Epiblast: A fundamental tissue within the very early embryo derived from the inner cell mass.
 Epithelium: A basic type of tissue that lines surfaces and some cavities of the body.
 Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs): Large family of growth fac- tors involved in multiple processes
during embryonic development.
 Haplo insufficiency: The presence of only one functional copy of a particular gene.
 Hedgehog: Family of intercellular signaling molecules, which in vertebrates includes Sonic
hedgehog (Shh).
 Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath: Epithelial derivative of the enamel organ, composed of inner
 and outer enamel epithe- lia, which maps out early root architecture.
 Homeobox genes: Highly conserved family of genes that encode transcription factors.
 Hypodontia: Agenesis of six or less teeth, excluding third molars.
 Initiation: Start of the tooth development process.
 Inner enamel epithelium: Population of epithelial cells within the enamel organ, which ultimately
differentiate into ameloblasts.
 LacZ reporter: A reporter gene used by biologists to map the activity of some gene of interest by
placing the reporter (which can be easily visualized) under the regulation of that gene. LacZ is a
gene derived from the bacterium E. coli, which encodes the beta-galactosidase enzyme. This
enzyme, when present in cells or tissues expressing the gene, causes those cells or tissues to
appear blue when they are incubated in a medium that contains a substrate called X-gal.
 Morphogenesis: The biological process that establishes shape.
 Neural crest-derived ectomesenchyme: Specialized embry- onic connective tissue derived from
neural crest cells.
 Nonsyndromic: Familial disorder, which is not associated with any other phenotypic features.
 Odontoblasts: Specialized cells derived from the dental papilla, which secrete dentin.
 Oligodontia: Agenesis of six or more teeth, excluding the third molars.
 Outer enamel epithelium: Population of epithelial cells extending around the periphery of the
enamel organ; thought to provide support during amelogenesis. At the cervical loop they
contribute to Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath.
 Patterning: The biological process that achieves complex cell organization in both time and space.
 Periodontium: The supporting structures of the tooth, including the root (dentin and
cementum), periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone.
 Predentin: The first formed, unmineralized layer of dentin.
 Primary enamel knot: A signaling center located within the apical region of the enamel
organ responsible for generating primary coronal shape.
 Primary epithelial band: Initial thickening of oral epithelium that marks out the tooth-
forming regions of the jaws.
 Secondary enamel knots: Signaling centers that form in multi-cusped teeth after the
primary enamel knot has disap- peared, located at the future cusp tips within the apical
region of the enamel organ and responsible for generating multiple cusps in the tooth
crown.
 Sonic hedgehog (Shh): A vertebrate member of the Hedgehog signaling family, with a key
role in many aspects of development.
 Stellate reticulum: A population of star-shaped epithelial cells within the enamel organ at the
bell stage.
 Stratum intermedium: Population of flattened epithelial cells situated adjacent to the inner
enamel epithelium that appear during the bell stage.
 Supernumerary teeth: Teeth that develop in excess of the normal number within the
dentition.

 Syndrome: The association of several clinically recognizable features, signs, symptoms, or

characteristics that often occur together.
 Tooth bud: Initial invagination of tooth-forming epithelium associated with localized
condensation of dental papilla.
 Tooth germ: The developing embryonic tooth, comprised of the enamel organ, dental
papilla, and dental follicle.
 Vestibular lamina: Ingrowth of oral epithelium that is des- tined to degenerate and
produce the vestibule between cheek and jaw.
 Vestigial teeth: Rudimentary tooth buds that form within the early mouse dentition whose
development is destined to be arrested. They are thought to represent teeth that have
been lost during evolution.
 Wnt: A large network of proteins involved in cell-cell communication.
 Acquired pellicle: The thin coat on the enamel surface consisting of adsorbed salivary proteins,
glycoproteins, and mucins.
 Ameloblast: The enamel-forming cell that differentiates from the inner enamel epithelium of the
enamel organ.
 Ameloblastin: An enamel matrix protein, produced by ameloblasts; constitutes approximately 5% of
the organic matrix.
 Amelogenesis: The process of enamel formation, consisting of presecretory, secretory, transition,
maturation, and protective stages.
 Amelogenesis imperfecta: A family of inherited diseases of enamel, caused by mutations in the
genes of enamel matrix proteins or proteins essential for matrix synthesis, secretion, and
mineralization; results in thin and/or poorly mineralized enamel.
 Amelogenin: The major protein of the enamel matrix, pro- duced by ameloblasts; constitutes
approximately 90% of the organic matrix.
 Amelotin: A protein present in the basal lamina produced by ameloblasts following the secretory
stage of amelogenesis; involved in the adhesion of ameloblasts to the enamel surface.
 Amorphous calcium phosphate: A noncrystalline calcium phosphate mineral phase, with a Ca/PO4
molar ratio of approx- imately 1.45; carbonate, magnesium, and pyrophosphate ions also may be
incorporated in amorphous calcium phosphate.
 Anatomic crown: The portion of the tooth covered by enamel.
 Carbonic anhydrase: The enzyme catalyzing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to form
carbonic acid.
 Cross-striations: Lines seen crossing enamel rods at regular intervals in ground sections viewed in
the light microscope; believed to represent daily increments of enamel formation.
 Dental caries: Lesions of the enamel or dentin of teeth initi- ated by the dissolution of mineral
crystals by acid produced during metabolism of carbohydrates by microorganisms in the microbial
film (plaque) on the tooth surface.
 Dentinoenamel junction: The interface between dentin and enamel.
 Enamel: The hard, white tissue consisting of approximately 96% mineral that covers the anatomic
crowns of the teeth.
 Enamel cuticle: A thin coating of residual cellular and extra- cellular material on the enamel surface
of newly erupted teeth that is quickly worn away.
 Enamel lamella: A defect originating from the enamel surface, filled with organic material, that
extends part way or all the way through the enamel.
 Enamel rod (prism): The basic structural component of enamel, consisting of enamel crystals and
residual enamel proteins, produced by ameloblasts and extending from the dentinoenamel
junction to the tooth surface.
 Enamel spindle: Extension of a dentinal tubule across the dentinoenamel junction into enamel,
created when enamel matrix is deposited around an odontoblast process lying between adjacent
ameloblasts.
 Enamel tuft: A bush or tree-like structure containing residual enamel matrix, originating from the
dentinoenamel junction and extending for a short distance into enamel.
 Enamelin: An enamel matrix protein thought to be involved in initiation of mineral crystal
formation and elongation; rapidly degraded and present mainly at the growing enamel surface.
 Enamelysin (MMP-20): An enamel proteinase (matrix metal- loproteinase-20) produced by
secretory ameloblasts that degrades enamel matrix proteins during the secretory stage of
amelogenesis.
 Gnarled enamel: Enamel at sites of high tooth surface curva- ture that in ground sections exhibits
apparent twisting paths of enamel rods due to the variation in direction of adjacent rods.
 Ground sections: Because highly mineralized tissues such as enamel and adult bone are difficult
to section using standard embedding and sectioning procedures, the mineral content typically is
removed using acid or chelating agents. In order to study the mineral distribution, ground sections
are prepared. The sample of enamel or bone is cut with a diamond saw blade to produce a section
of 0.5 to 1 mm in thickness. The section is then thinned to a thickness of approximately 100 μm or
less by polishing with fine abrasive paper or using a grinding plate. The section is placed on a glass
microscope slide and a cover- slip is mounted. Only the mineralized components are visible;

the surrounding or included soft tissues and cells are not preserved.
 Hunter-Schreger bands: Bright and dark bands seen in ground sections of enamel viewed by
reflected light, due to variations in the direction of groups of enamel rods.
 Hydroxyapatite: The mineral form of calcium phosphate, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, found in skeletal
tissues and teeth of vertebrates.
 Incremental lines (striae of Retzius): Long-period growth lines in enamel occurring every 7 to 11
days, indicating the position of the enamel surface when the lines were formed during the
secretory stage of amelogenesis.
 Interrod enamel: Enamel secreted from the sides of Tomes’ processes, surrounding the enamel
rod, containing mineral crystals with a different orientation than those of the rod.
 Junctional epithelium: The epithelium, originally derived from the reduced enamel epithelium on
eruption of the tooth, that is attached to the tooth surface, either enamel or cemen- tum, and
seals the bottom of the gingival sulcus.
 Kallikrein 4 (KLK4): An enamel proteinase produced by secretory ameloblasts that functions to
degrade enamel matrix proteins during the maturation stage of amelogenesis.
 Neonatal line: The prominent incremental line in enamel (and dentin) present in teeth that are
forming at the time of birth.
 Odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein (ODAM): A protein produced by ameloblasts that is
present in the basal lamina formed at the end of the secretory stage of amelogenesis.
 Papillary layer: A combination of the three outer layers of the enamel organ (outer enamel
epithelium, stellate reticulum, stratum intermedium), which is deeply penetrated by blood vessels
from the dental follicle, giving the appearance in sec- tions of papillae.
 Perikymata: Horizontal grooves that encircle the tooth at the intersections of striae of Retzius
with the enamel surface.
 Presecretory ameloblast: Cell of the inner enamel epithelium undergoing differentiation to a
secretory ameloblast, includ- ing elongation of the cell and migration of the nucleus to a proximal
location and the Golgi complex to a supranuclear position.
 Plaque: The microbial layer (biofilm) adherent to the tooth surface through attachment to the
acquired enamel pellicle.
 Reduced (protective) ameloblasts: Ameloblasts of the final stage of amelogenesis that adhere to
the enamel surface and contribute to the formation of the junctional epithelium on eruption of the
tooth.
 Reduced enamel epithelium: The cells of the enamel organ at the completion of maturation,
including the reduced amelo- blasts and the papillary layer, that forms the junctional epithe- lium
upon eruption of the tooth.
 Rod sheath: The space around the occlusal three-fourths of the enamel rod, created by the abrupt
change in the direction of enamel crystals between the rod and interrod enamel, and containing a
slightly greater amount of enamel proteins than the rod or interrod enamel.
 Ruffle-ended ameloblast: A maturation stage ameloblast with an infolded or “ruffled” distal
surface (adjacent to the enamel); responsible for the transport of mineral into the enamel.
 Secretory ameloblast: Ameloblasts with distal Tomes’ pro- cesses that secrete and partially mineralize
the enamel matrix and create the rod structure of enamel.
 Smooth-ended ameloblast: An ameloblast with a relatively smooth distal surface, that actively or
passively participates in the removal of water and degraded enamel proteins during the maturation
stage.
Basement membrane/basal lamina: A three-dimensional molecular structure produced by epithelial cells,
consisting of collagen IV, laminin, nidogen/entactin and perlecan. The

basement membrane serves to attach the epithelium to the underlying mesenchyme/connective tissue
and allows diffusion of molecules between epithelium and connective

tissue.

Calcospherite: A globular or spherical accumulation of mineral in dentin.

Cell-free pulp area: A thin border located between the Hoehl’s cell layer and the central pulp, where pulp
cells are reduced in number.

Cell-rich pulp zone: A region just beneath the cell free area with increased numbers of cells.

Central pulp: The bulk of the pulp, internal to the odontoblasts, Hoehl’s cell layer, and cell-free pulp
border.

Cervical erosions or abfractions, or mylolysis: The loss of dental substance at the cervical region,
increasing risk of tooth sensitivity.

Circumpulpal dentin: The bulk of tooth dentin, lying between the peripheral mantle dentin and secondary
dentin at the pulpal surface.

Class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC): Proteins expressed at the surface of cells,
including pulp cells, that bind antigenic peptides for recognition by the immune system.

Dentinal tubules: Tubular spaces extending through the dentin, created as dentin matrix is deposited
around the odontoblast processes.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta, dentin dysplasia, X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets: Three forms of genetic
alterations leading to dentin pathologies.

Fibroblast-like pulp cells (pulpoblasts): Structural pulp cells; may provide nutriments for stem cells.
Growth factors: Proteins or hormones capable of stimulating cell proliferation and differentiation; growth
factors association with dentin include TGFβ, FGFs, IGF I & II, VEGF, and BMPs.

Hoehl’s cells: Cells resulting from the last division of preodontoblasts. They may remain dormant, or may
differentiate if odontoblasts are injured or unable to secrete new layers of dentin.

Hyaline Hopewell-Smith zone: A superficial border of atubular dentin beneath cementum in the root.

Hybrid layer: A superficial zone where the restorative resin penetrates between the collagen fibrils of the
softened dentin surface, and resin tags anchors the restorative resin within the enlarged tubules.

Hydrodynamic theory: An explanation for the mechanism by which tooth pain is perceived. Stimulation of
dentin causes displacement of fluid within the dentinal tubules, activating the odontoblast-nerve
mechanoreceptor complex.

Hydroxyapatite: The calcium phosphate mineral phase found in normal dentin, organized as needle-like
crystallites.