Morphodifferentiation and histodifferentiation of the dental hard tissues in compound odontoma: a study of undemineralized material.

Dental hard tissues and mineralization at the enamel surface or in the ameloblastic epithelium were studied in 10 odontomas using undemineralized material. All the specimens showed a high degree of histo- and morphodifferentiation. Dentin formed the bulk of the tumors. Much of the enamel was prismatic and apparently normal and in almost every specimen were present enamel tufts and spindles. At greater magnification it could be seen that the prisms had a very irregular orientation. Cementum was mostly acellular. Calcified material formed focally in the intercellular portion of the enamel epithelium: this material showed a concentric layers arrangement.