Aspects of the final phase of enamel formation as evidenced by observations of superficial enamel of human third molars using scanning electron microscopy

Judged from the incremental lines and occurrence of prism-free enamel, ameloblasts slow down and tend to lose their Tomes' process as they approach the end of secretion. The crystals of prism-free enamel belong to the same system as the interprism crystals of prismatic enamel. A method, based on the disposition of fine incremental lines, is suggested for evaluation of ameloblast dynamics in the last stage of enamel secretion.