The dental papilla is a condensation of ectomesenchymal cells

Cell (biology)

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....

 called odontoblast

Odontoblast

In vertebrates, an odontoblast is a biological cell of neural crest origin that is part of the outer surface of the dental pulp, and whose biological function is dentinogenesis, which is the creation of dentin, the substance under the tooth enamel....

s, seen in histologic

Histology

Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...

 sections of a developing tooth

Tooth development

Tooth development or odontogenesis is the complex process by which teeth form from embryonic cells, grow, and erupt into the mouth. Although many diverse species have teeth, non-human tooth development is largely the same as in humans...

. It lies below a cellular aggregation known as the enamel organ

Enamel organ

The enamel organ, also known as dental organ, is a cellular aggregation seen in histologic sections of a developing tooth. It lies above a condensation of ectomesenchymal cells called the dental papilla...

. The dental papilla appears after 8-10 weeks intra uteral life. The dental papilla gives rise to the dentin

Dentin

Dentine is a calcified tissue of the body, and along with enamel, cementum, and pulp is one of the four major components of teeth. Usually, it is covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root and surrounds the entire pulp...

 and pulp

Pulp (tooth)

The dental pulp is the part in the center of a tooth made up of living connective tissue and cells called odontoblasts.- Anatomy :Each person can have a total of up to 52 pulp organs, 32 in the permanent and 20 in the primary teeth....

 of a tooth

Tooth

Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...

.

The enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental follicle

Dental follicle

The dental follicle is a sac containing the developing tooth and its odontogenic organ. The dental follicle differentiates into the periodontal ligament. In addition, it may be the precursor of other cells of the periodontium, including osteoblasts and cementoblasts...

together forms one unit, called the tooth germ. This is of importance because all the tissues of a tooth and its supporting structures form from these distinct cellular aggregations.