Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, 1923, Vol 67 Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, 1923, Vol. 67

In the case of the upper jaw I was also able to trace the dental lamina to the very end, close to the condyle. It begins here as a much shorter fold than it becomes farther forward. The fold at the very first is more or less oval in transverse section, and later appears club-shaped. It becomes separated in fact into the oval free extremity and a much more slender stalk. The expanded free edge of the dental lamina may be traced forwards into the series of rudimentary teeth. The only change at first in this region of the dental lamina is the increase in size, at intervals and for the distance of a few sections, of the expanded free extremity. Nevertheless, it is particularly' to be noted that where there are no signs of tooth formation the ending of the lamina is still swollen. It has been asserted and denied1 that a swollen extremity of the dental lamina argues the actual presence of a rudimentary tooth germ. It would seem likely in the present case that the region of the jaw which we are now considering will ultimately be furnished with teeth. But I have no positive facts to fix the validity of this decision. And, moreover, in view of the apparent agreement in age of all the undoubted tooth germs in both jaws, it might be argued with equal force that the terminal region is not to be invaded by teeth. In this event the swelling of the edge of the dental lamina will be an argument in support of those who see in a terminal swelling no actual prophecy of teeth in the same situation, however rudimentary those teeth may be.

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