dental lamina

The dental lamina is a crucial embryonic structure in tooth development. It's a band of epithelial cells that grows into the developing gums and gives rise to the enamel organs, which are the precursors to teeth.1

In mammals, the dental lamina proliferates to form two horseshoe-shaped structures, one for each future dental arcade. These structures then develop into enamel organs, which map out the size and shape of the tooth crown. The enamel organ influences the development of the mesodermal parts of the tooth and, along with the dental papilla and follicular sac, forms the tooth germ. This germ is the embryonic tooth that will eventually develop into a fully formed tooth.2