What developmental phase of teeth occurs between the cap stage and the bell stage?

The developmental phase of teeth that occurs between the cap stage and the bell stage is known as the bud stage. In dental development, the bud stage is the initial phase where the dental lamina forms and begins to develop into distinct tooth buds, representing the beginnings of what will become the teeth. This is crucial because it marks the transition from the earliest formation of dental structures to more advanced developmental stages, like the cap stage and then the bell stage, where the tooth's shape and characteristics begin to take form more definitively.

During the cap stage, the budding structures start to take on a shape that resembles a cap, representing the enamel organ, while during the bell stage, the differentiation of the enamel and dental tissues occurs. The bud stage is essential because it lays the groundwork for all the subsequent formations that occur in tooth development.