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
Latin	papilla dentis
Gray's	subject #242 1122
MeSH	Dental+papilla

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.

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.

[edit] See also

• Tooth development

[edit] References

• Cate, A.R. Ten. Oral Histology: development, structure, and function. 5th ed. 1998. ISBN 0-8151-2952-1.

[edit] External links

• Dental+papilla at eMedicine Dictionary

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v • d • e Tooth development -blast Odontoblast · Ameloblast · Cementoblast General Dental papilla · Hertwig's epithelial root sheath · Epithelial cell rests of Malassez tooth navs: anat/dev, disease/neoplasia, proc