A
cementoblast is a
biological cell that forms from the
follicular cells around the root of a
tooth, and whose biological function is
cementogenesis, which is the formation of
cementum (hard tissue that covers the tooth root). The mechanism of differentiation of the cementoblasts is controversial but circumstantial evidence suggests that an epithelium or epithelial component may cause dental sac cells to differentiate into cementoblasts, characterised by an increase in length. Other theories involve Hertwig
epithelial root sheath (HERS) being involved.