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Determination of Root Shape
This diagram depicts the develop-ment of roots of a single (1) and multirooted teeth (2 and 3). The epithelial diaphragms face inward (medially) and move downward drawing the epithelial root sheath with it. The root narrows in a cone-like fashion, the number of roots determined by differential growth of the epithelial diaphragm cells.
The shape of the tooth, crown and root(s) is the result of this differ-ential growth which in turn is determined genetically. A tooth bud of a molar transplanted into the developmental locale of an incisor develops into a molar. The triple-rooted molar (2) is characteristic of upper molars while double rooted one (3) is common in the lower molars.
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