Final answer:
The morphology of the tooth crown is determined during the Bell stage of tooth development. Prior stages include the dental lamina, bud, and cap stages, which contribute to the initial formation and growth towards the final structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The morphology of the crown of a tooth is determined during the Bell stage of tooth development. The Bell stage is a more advanced stage following the bud and cap stages, and during this time, the shape and size of the enamel organ are defined, which in turn determines the final shape of the tooth crown. This process involves a complex interaction between the epithelial cells of the enamel organ and the mesenchymal cells that will eventually form the dentin and pulp.
The cap stage precedes the Bell stage and is characterized by a cap-like appearance of the developing tooth structure. Prior to this, the bud stage is when the tooth first appears as a growth from the dental lamina. Lastly, the dental lamina stage is when the tooth development process begins with the formation of a horseshoe-shaped band of epithelium in the developing jaws which will give rise to the dental buds.