Tooth renewal is initiated from epithelium associated with existing teeth. The development of new teeth requires dental epithelial cells that have competence for tooth formation, but specific marker genes for these cells have not been identified. Here, we analyzed expression patterns of the transcription factor Sox2 in two different modes of successional tooth formation: tooth replacement and s...

dentinogenesis imperfecta (di) is a hereditary dentin defect caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in dentin sialophosphoprotein gene. defective dentin development results in discolored teeth that are prone to wear and fracture. early diagnosis and proper treatment are necessary to achieve better functional and esthetic results and minimize nutritional deficiencies and psychosocial distress....

The importance of BMP receptor Ia (BMPRIa) mediated signaling in the development of craniofacial organs, including the tooth and palate, has been well illuminated in several mouse models of loss of function, and by its mutations associated with juvenile polyposis syndrome and facial defects in humans. In this study, we took a gain-of-function approach to further address the role of BMPR-IA-medi...

Classical tooth development theory suggests that dental papilla cells (DPCs) are the precursor cells of odontoblasts, which are responsible for dentin development. However, our previous studies have indicated that dental follicle cells (DFCs) can differentiate into odontoblasts. To further our understanding of tooth development, and the differences in dentinogenesis between DFCs and DPCs, the o...

The important role of genetics has been increasingly recognized in recent years with respect to the understanding of dental anomalies, such as tooth agenesis. The lack of any real insight into the cause of this condition has led us to use a human molecular genetics approach to identify the genes perturbing normal dental development. We are reporting a strategy that can be applied to investigate...

BACKGROUND Traumatic tooth avulsions occur most often in 7 to 9 year-old children. Replantation is considered the treatment of choice and follow-up is required in order to prevent possible complications. CASE REPORT A case of replantation of a maxillary immature incisor in a 9.2-year-old male is reported. Tooth 21 was stored in saliva, in the child's mouth, and it was replanted within 45 min ...

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are thought to play important roles during enamel and dentin biomineralization. Previously, membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) was localized to the plasma membranes of ameloblasts and odontoblasts of the developing tooth. The best-characterized function of MT1-MMP is to initiate the activation of gelatinase A (MMP-2). Thus, we hypothesized that g...

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) are the dominant vertebrate group today (+30 000 species, predominantly teleosts), with great morphological diversity, including their dentitions. How dental morphological variation evolved is best addressed by considering a range of taxa across actinopterygian phylogeny; here we examine the dentition of Polyodon spathula (American paddlefish), assigned to the...

Findings are presented from a prospective cohort study of timing of primary tooth emergence and timing of oral colonization of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in Australian twins. The paper focuses on differences in colonization timing in genetically identical monozygotic (MZ) twins. Timing of tooth emergence was based on parental report. Colonization timing of S. mutans were established by pl...

The single replacement from milk teeth to permanent teeth makes mammalian teeth different from teeth of most nonmammalian vertebrates and other epithelial organs such as hair and feathers, whose continuous replacement has been linked to Wnt signaling. Here we show that mouse tooth buds expressing stabilized beta-catenin in epithelium give rise to dozens of teeth. The molar crowns, however, are ...