The report on odontomes / by the Committee appointed by the British Dental Association.

  • British Dental Association.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The report on odontomes / by the Committee appointed by the British Dental Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/244 (page 3)
    author Compound Follicular Odontomes, and placed under “ Aberrations of the Follicle.” The normal process of development of a tooth is primarily dependent upon active changes in the epiblastic cells, and resulting from these changes, which act as a stimulus, a reaction in the mesoblastic cells. The develop- ing tooth in its earliest stage is composed entirely of epithelial structures consisting of an enamel organ con- nected with the oral epithelium by the tooth-band. These, for convenience, are referred to as the dental epithelium. Following, and depending upon, the forma- tion of an enamel organ, the mesoblastic tissues become converted into special dental structures comprising the dental papilla and the tooth follicle. From these last two special structures dentine and cementum respectively are formed. The enamel organ has a double function, it forms enamel and also determines the development and external configuration of the dentine, even where no enamel is formed. The presence of the enamel organ is essential for the production of dentine. The existence of dentine thus postulates the pre-existence of an enamel organ. These facts are of importance in appreciating the path- ology of odontomes, especially of those which contain dentine. Following the basis of classification laid down by Bland- Sutton, some alterations in the detail of his arrange- ment of the tumours into classes and sub-classes are necessary. This is due to several factors, among them the recognition of the wider function of the enamel organ, the discovery of the epithelial lining in certain cysts, and the investigation of a larger number of specimens. The following classification has been adopted, in the belief that it is consistent with the present knowledge of these tumours :—