Growth and Transcription Factors in Tooth Development

Abstract

Odontogenesis is a complex embryonic process originated by the interaction between two main embryonic components, dental epithelium and ectomesenchyme. This ectomesenchymal interaction is mediated by growth and transcription factors controlling the different aspects of tooth development such as tooth initiation, enamel knot formation and/or cell proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this review was to determinate what factors are, how they interact and its functions in Odontogenesis. We have described several signaling pathways which are essential for correct tooth development and organize all available information. Our conclusion is that instead of large amount of information about tooth development, further studies are necessary to clear several essential mechanisms which still remain unknown and/or unclear.