Cell Reprogramming, IPS Limitations, and Overcoming Strategies in Dental Bioengineering

Figure 2

Stages and events of molar tooth development. Tooth morphogenesis is carried out by complex epithelium-ectomesenchyme interactions. Epithelial cells are depicted in gray and ectomesenchymal cells in red. As a consequence of sequential induction events, ameloblast (A) and odontoblast (O) cells start to differentiate at the interface between dental epithelium (de) and dental mesenchyme (dm) at the end of bell stage. Enamel (E) and dentin (D) tissues are secreted during the appositional stage, when the developing dental organ appears separated from the oral epithelium (oe). When enamel mineralization is completed, ameloblasts undergo regression, whereas odontoblasts will be maintained during the whole life of the tooth. The areas covered by squares are represented magnified below. Signaling centers during tooth morphogenesis are drawn as red circles: dental placode (dp), primary enamel knot (pek), and secondary enamel knot (sek). pA: preameloblasts; pO: preodontoblasts.