The dental lamina is a band of epithelial tissue seen in histologic sections of a developing tooth. Best described as an in-growth of ectomesenchyme tissue, the dental lamina is frequently distinguished from the vestibular lamina, which develops concurrently. When it is present, the dental lamina connects the developing tooth bud to the epithelium of the oral cavity. Eventually, the dental lamina disintegrates into small clusters of epithelium and is resorbed. In situations when the clusters are not resorbed, eruption cysts are formed over the developing tooth and delay its eruption into the oral cavity.

References

• Cate, A.R. Ten. Oral Histology: development, structure, and function. 5th ed. 1998. ISBN 0815129521.

Teeth