Scanning electron microscopy of developing human deciduous incisor teeth.
The mineralized parts of the teeth of 17 human fetal dentitions, aged 15-38 weeks, were measured mesio-distally and occluso-cervically. The growth pattern of the incisors, with particular emphasis on the changes at the developing incisal edge was studied. Contralateral teeth in the same arch developed at approximately the same rate and with mirror-image morphology. Mineralization started in the upper and lower central incisors, followed by the corresponding lateral incisors. It then progressed at approximately the same rate for both incisors. At first, mesio-distal enamel growth was more significant, but was surpassed by occluso-cervical development later. Five development stages were identified as the incisors developed from a central lobe to the mature form. The main component of growth for the mesial lobe was in the incisal direction, and for the distal lobe in a distal direction, resulting in the characteristic approximal asymmetry of these teeth.