Orban’s

Chapter 1

Enamel

The enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body. It is the only ectodermal derivative of the tooth.

All other hard tissues of the body, dentin, cemen- tum and bone also have hydroxyapatite as the principal inorganic
constituent. Hydroxyapatite crystals differ in size and shape; those of the enamel are hexagonal and longest.
(inorganic constituents re mainly calcium phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals.)

Enamel is the only hard tissue, which does not have collagen in its organic matri

The enamel present in the fully formed crown has no viable cells, as the cells forming it—the ameloblast
degenerates, once enamel formation is over. This is of clinical importance as enamel lost, after tooth has erupted,
due to wear and tear or due to dental caries, cannot be formed again. Enamel lacks not only formative cells but also
vessels and nerves. This makes the tooth painless and no blood oozes out when enamel is drilled while making a
cavity for filling.

Dentin

The dentin forms the bulk of the tooth. It consists of dentinal tubules( tubules in which the cytoplasmic process are
occurring), which contains the cytoplasmic process of the odontoblasts. The tubules are laid in the calcified (hard)
matrix—the walls of the tubules are more calcified than the region between the tubules.(the wall of the tubules are
thicker than the matrix)

Dentin is avascular. Lacks blood vessels. Nerves are present in the inner dentin only. Therefore, when dentin is
exposed, by loss of enamel and stimu- lated, a pain-like sensation called sensitivity is experienced

the junction between enamel and dentin is scalloped to give mechanical retention to the enamel

The cells that form the dentin—the odontoblast lies in the pulp, near its border with dentin. Thus, dentin protects the
pulp and the pulp nourishes the dentin. Though dentin and pulp are different tissues they function as one unit.

Cementum

The cementum is comparable to bone in its proportion of inorganic to organic constituents and to similarities in its
structure. The cementum is thinnest at its junction with the enamel and thickest at the apex

Cementum forms throughout life, so as to keep the tooth in functional position. Cementum also forms as a repair tis-
sue

The cells that form the cementum; the cementoblast lines the cemental surface.

The cells within the cementum, the cementocytes are enclosed in a lacuna and its process in the canaliculi, similar to
that seen in bone, but in a far less complex network. Cementocytes presence is limited to certain regions. The
regions of cementum containing cells are called cellular cementum and the regions without it, are known as the
acellular cementum. The acellular cementum is concerned with the function of anchorage to the teeth and the
cellular cementum is concerned with adaptation, i.e. to keep the tooth in the functional position. Like dentin,
cementum forms throughout life, and is also avascular and noninnervated.
Pulp

The pulp, the only soft tissue of the tooth, is a loose con- nective tissue enclosed by the dentin. The pulp responds to
any stimuli by pain. Pulp contains the odontoblast.

Odontoblasts are terminally differentiated cells, and in the event of their injury and death, they are replaced from the
pool of undifferentiated ectomesenchymal cells (related to blood vessels)in the pulp.

Pulp also contains defense cells. The average volume of the pulp is about 0.02 cm .