Measurements of the overall size of the crystallite on transverse sections have been reported to be 700 nm × 300 nm (mean value: L + l : 2 = 500 nm) (263 Å ± 22 x 683 Å ± 34- Daculsi et al. 1984). They appear as long ribbons with a length over a few millimeters, starting at the dentinoenamel junction and probably reaching at the surface the whole enamel thickness.

In the outer aprismatic layer, crystallites are parallel to each other and form a palisade-like structure. Acidic solutions or gels spread at the surface and dissolve the center of the crystal or enlarge the narrow intercrystalline structures. After a short period of time, the row of crystallites is reduced in height. The aprismatic layer disappears and the new surface created reaches the prismatic layer.

During enamel formation, ameloblast Tomes’ processes fill structures that will become rod (or prisms) and mineralize (Figs. 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, and 3.8). At the rod periphery, the interrod material forms a continuous network. The width of the rods is about 3 μm and includes more than 1000 crystallites/rod unit, whereas the thinner interrod displays a mean thickness of 0.5 μm and contains about 100–300 tightly packed crystallites. In rods, the crystals are bending from the head to the tail. A thin layer of enamel matrix proteins, the so-called enamel sheath, separates rods and interrods. Depending on the location of the etched area at the enamel surface, rods and interrod crystallites form a 60°angle.