Genetic Control of Enamel Development

Dental enamel is the only mineralized tissue of epithelial origin in mammals. The exceptional structural complexity and physical properties of tooth enamel seem to be dependent upon the properties of the protein matrix precursor. Proteins involved in enamel biosynthesis guide hydroxyapatite mineral formation, making the tooth enamel the hardest tissue in the vertebrate body. In dentistry, due to inflammatory or traumatic events, dental tissues including enamel may suffer from loss of their function. The regenerative capability of dental enamel is fundamentally limited due to apoptosis of ameloblasts after tissue maturation and tooth eruption. Today, replacing the lost enamel in dental practice relies on restorative materials, such as polymers, metals and ceramics, which frequently fail due to poor adhesion or cracking. Therefore, further understanding of events during enamel formation and accordingly biomimetic replacement for dental enamel is required.