DE NTI N (L ECTUR E V)

D E NTINOGENESIS
 Dentinogenesis
➢ The formation of dentin is called dentinogenesis

➢ It begins before amelogenesis

➢ Dentin is formed by odontoblasts

➢ It develops from the cells of dental papilla which is derived

from neural crest cells

➢ Dentinogenesis begins in the late bell stage, when the

outermost cells of dental papilla differentiate into
odontoblast by the influence of inner enamel epithelium
1 : PRIMARY DENTIN FORMATION

The dentin formed before root completion is called

PRIMARY dentin. Divided into two stages:

A : CORONAL DENTINOGENESIS
❑ ODONTOBLASTS DIFFERENTIATION
❑ FORMATION OF MANTLE DENTIN
❑ FORMATION OF CIRCUMPULPAL DENTIN

B : RADICULAR DENTINOGENESIS
2 : SECONDARY DENTIN FORMATION
3 : TERTIARY DENTIN FORMATION
➢ Odontoblasts are
differentiated from
the cells of the
dental papilla
➢ These cells begin the process of dentinogenesis
at the cusp tips
ODONTOBLASTS DIFFERENTIATION

➢ Requires signaling molecules and growth factors form

inner enamel epithelium (IEE)

▪ The outermost layer of ectomesenchymal cells of dental

papilla are small
▪ Having centrally placed nucleus and very few organelles
▪ Separated from IEE by Acellular zone that contains some
fine collagen fibrils.

➢ Almost immediately, after cells of the IEE reverse polarity,

the ectomesenchymal cells now undergo mitosis to yield 2
daughter cells.
➢ One of them which is adjacent to basal lamina of IEE
exhibits an increase in cytoplasm and organelles, called
PREODONTOBLAST
Pre-odontoblast comes in contact with IEE cells and receive signals
from them to differentiate into ODONTOBLAST.

➢ Odontoblasts are:

▪ Elongated
▪ Highly polarized with nucleus at proximal end (away from IEE)
▪ All organelles associated with protein synthesis are situated at
distal end .
➢ Increase in size of odontoblasts will eliminate the acellular zone

The other daughter cell remains undifferentiated as sub-

odontoblastic ectomesenchymal cell.
Factors involved in Odontoblast
Differentiation:

fibronectin, decorin, laminin (α2)

chondroitin sulfate
Factors involved in Odontoblast
cytoskeleton organization:

Dentinogenesis factors like transforming

growth factor (TGF), Insulin-like growth
factors (IGF) and bone morphogenic proteins
(BMPs) which are present in the inner enamel
epithelium, are released and these are
taken up by the preodontoblast.
 As the odontoblasts differentiate they
change from an ovoid to a columnar
shape, and their nuclei become basally
oriented
➢ Proline appears in the rough surface endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi apparatus.

➢ The proline then migrates into the cell process in

dense granules and is emptied into the
extracellular collagenous matrix of the predentin.
 MANTLE DENTIN FORMATION

After differentiation of odontoblasts, secretion of organic matrix

occurs first.
➢ INITIALLY:
▪ Large-diameter collagen fibrils (0.1-0.2 μm in diameter) called
Von Korff´s fibers appear
▪ These fibers are cork screw shape
▪ Perpendicular to DEJ, Argyrophillic in nature
▪ These fibers consist of Type III collagen associated with
fibronectin
▪ They originate from odontoblasts and extend perpendicularly
towards IEE
➢ LATER:
• Smaller collagen type I fibrils appear
• Secreted by larger odontoblasts
• Orient themselves parallel to the future dentinoenamel junction
• Thus a layer of mantle predentin appears.
• Extension of processes from odontoblasts into
extracellular matrix occurs simultaneously

• These processes may penetrate the basal lamina and

interpose itself between the cells of the IEE to form
enamel spindles

• The odontoblast process or Tomes’ fiber, is left behind

in the forming dentin matrix. As more matrix is formed,
the odontoblast move centripetally towards the pulp.
Formation of matrix vesicles by odontoblast

• Crystals in matrix vesicles grow rapidly, rupture the

confines of the vesicle, fuse with other crystals to form
mineralized dentin

SO…. Deposition of mineral lags behind the formation of

organic matrix.
• Non collagenous proteins produced by odontoblasts to
regulate or direct the crystal growth
• So, coronal mantle dentin is formed in a layer
approximately 15 to 20 μm thick
• onto which the primary (circumpulpal) dentin then is
added
Primary mineralization → Crystals form as globules
or calcospherites in the collagen fibers of
predentin

Secondary Mineralization→ Additional crystals

deposit over the partially mineralized predentin
Hydroxyapatite crystal
deposition in collagen fibers

Crystals are laid down

within the fibrils

Globular mineralization of
dentin
 Mantle dentin

First site of dentin

calcification
Factors controlling dentin
mineralization:

➢ Dentin phosphoprotein (DPP) / Phosphophoryn →

Controls the growth of apatite crystals

➢ Osteonectin → inhibits the growth of apatite

crystals but promotes its binding to collagen.

➢ Osteopontin→ promotes mineralization.

➢ Gla protein (gamma carboxyglutamic acid)

containing protein and phospholipids act as seeds
or nucleators to attract and concentrate calcium.
Chondroitin sulfate →promote apatite binding to the
collagen.
Matrix vesicles are involved in the mineralization of
mantle dentin
The daily incremental deposition of dentin is 4µm
per day
 ROOT DENTIN FORMATION

How radicular dentin

formation is different
from coronal dentin ???

➢ The radicular dentin formation compared

to coronal dentin, is slower, less
mineralized with collagen fibers laid down
parallel to the cemento-dentinal junction.
It begins when enamel and dentin
formation reaches future CEJ
Enamel apatite
crystals

Dentin apatite
crystals
Calcospherite mineralization is seen occasionally
along the pulp-predentin-forming front
Many genes are implicated in dentinogenesis, the
newer ones being MAP1B for odontoblast
differentiation, and PHEX for dentin mineralization.
Vascular supply during dentinogenesis:
• When mantle dentin formation begins, capillaries found beneath the
newly differentiated odontoblasts.

• As circumpulpal dentinogenesis is initiated, some of these

capillaries migrate between the odontoblasts

• Their endothelium fenestrates to permit increased exchange.

• With the completion of dentinogenesis, capillaries retreat from the

odontoblast layer

• Their endothelial lining once again becomes continuous