Dental Papilla Formation and Function
- Occurs in the cap stage of odontogenesis
- Dental papilla is a condensation of ectomesenchymal cells called odontoblasts
- Dental papilla appears after 8-10 weeks intrauterine life
- Gives rise to the dentin and pulp of a tooth
- Dental papilla provides nutrition to the enamel organ
Tooth Development Stages
- The Cap Stage: Occurs during the ninth or tenth week of prenatal development, unequal proliferation of the tooth bud forms a three-dimensional cap shape, differentiation of tissue types such as cytodifferentiation, histodifferentiation, and morphodifferentiation, formation of primordium of the tooth including enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac
- The Bell Stage: Occurs between the eleventh and twelfth week of prenatal development, formation of a bell-shaped structure in the labio-lingual section, differentiation of dental papilla cells into odontoblasts, odontoblasts secrete dentin matrix/pre-dentin
- Dental Tissue Formation: Dental tissues begin to form when the late bell stage is reached, cell mass migrates towards a rich blood supply in the mandible and maxilla, differentiated cells begin their formative role in secreting dental tissues, matrix deposition begins in dental papilla during the bell stage, volume of pulpal tissue decreases as blood supply reduces over time
Nerve and Vascular Supply during Early Development
- Vascular supply: Blood vessels branch out around the tooth germ in the dental follicle and dental papilla, maximum number of blood vessels in dental papilla during the bell stage, blood vessels in dental papilla coincide with future root development, viability of tissue is affected as blood supply decreases
- Nerve supply: Pioneer nerve fibers head towards the developing tooth during bud to cap stage
Dental Nerve Fibers and Innervation of Tooth Development
- Dental nerve fibers branch out and form a plexus around the tooth germ
- The dental follicle is the target of these dental nerve fibers
- The plexus of Raschkow is a network of nerves beneath the dentine
- Nerve fibers enter the dental papilla (pulp) during dentinogenesis
- Pioneer nerve fibers heading towards the tooth germ do not contain automatic nerve fibers
Odontoblast Differentiation and Tooth Development Signaling Molecules
- Understanding odontoblast differentiation is crucial for comprehending normal development
- Growth factors and signaling molecules in the inner enamel epithelium contribute to odontoblast differentiation
- Dental papilla cells are small and undifferentiated, with a central nucleus and few organelles
- Preodontoblasts rapidly enlarge and elongate beside the acellular zone
- Differentiated odontoblasts occupy the acellular zone and are highly polarized
- Nerve-related signaling molecules may be involved in the early innervation of the tooth germ
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2018) |
In embryology and prenatal development, the dental papilla is a condensation of ectomesenchymal cells called odontoblasts, seen in histologic sections of a developing tooth. It lies below a cellular aggregation known as the enamel organ. The dental papilla appears after 8–10 weeks intra uteral life. The dental papilla gives rise to the dentin and pulp of a tooth.
| Dental papilla | |
|---|---|
 Vertical section of the mandible of an early human fetus. X 25. (Dental papilla labeled at center right.) | |
 Histologic slide showing a tooth bud. A: enamel organ B: dental papilla C: dental follicle | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | papilla dentis |
| MeSH | D003771 |
| TA98 | A05.1.03.054 |
| TE | papilla_by_E4.0.3.3.1.0.12 E4.0.3.3.1.0.12 |
| FMA | 57662 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental follicle together forms one unit, called the tooth germ. This is of importance because all the tissues of a tooth and its supporting structures form from these distinct cellular aggregations. Similar to dental follicle, the dental papilla has a very rich blood supply and provides nutrition to the enamel organ.
