Rate and timing of enamel development in the deciduous bovine incisor

To determine the rate and timing of enamel development, a series of bovine deciduous central incisors were removed from bovine foetuses and the labial enamel examined. The estimated ages of the foetuses gave a time-base for the rates of development and maturation of the labial enamel in different regions of the central incisors. Enamel formation began at about 3.5 months, secondary mineralization at 4.5 months and maturation at 5.5 months of foetal age. The time taken for enamel to mature varied from place to place in the tooth and, in general, the enamel in the incisal region took longer to mature than that in the cervical part.