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Environmental Disruption of Dental Development

Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry,
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland

Teeth develop from the ectodermal lining of the first branchial arch and the underlying mesenchyme derived from the neural crest. Developing teeth undergo different stages: initiation, morphogenesis, cytodifferentiation and matrix secretion. Once the teeth are fully developed they do not undergo remodelling anymore and therefore any detrimental effects on their development can be detected in mature enamel and/or dentin. Developmental defects of teeth are permanent, which makes them good models in the study of past events in development

In humans the first permanent teeth start to develop during the fourth month of gestation and the mineralization of the crowns, starting prior to or at birth (first molars), lasts for the first years of life. During this time children can be exposed to compounds which may harm tooth development. Putative compounds are certain antibiotics. As mother's milk is a major source of environmental pollutants in an infant, the timing of tooth development will also make teeth a potentially significant target.

Developmental mineralization defects are also very common in children's teeth. Aetiologically, they can be either genetic or acquired or, most often, idiopathic.

We use the developing mouse molar tooth as a model to study the effects of various compounds on tooth morphology and dentin and enamel matrix formation and mineralization.

Created on  March 21, 2007

Last updated on  October 27, 2008