CONTRIBUTIONS OF NEURAL CREST-DERIVED CELLS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL REGION AND THE ANOMALIES CAUSED BY THESE CELLS

Neural crest cells are derived from the neuroectodermal cells which occur in course of the separation of surface ectoderm and neural tube during the embryogenesis. These cells have ability to develop many different cells and tissues in the human and have also ability to differentiate. Neural crest cells are important for dentistry because of oral and maxillofacial tissues including teeth are formed by migration and differentiation of these cells. During development, any malformation either migration or differentiation of these cells cause craniofacial anomalies. In this study, formation of the neural crest cells, formation of structures which derived from neural crest cells and the anomalies that is caused by neural crest cells which participate in formation of head, neck, face and oral cavity region were explained. It is learned that healthy formation, differantiation and migration of neural crest cells are necessary for development of structure in the oral and maxillofacial region.