Dentin

 Dentin is a calcified mineralized tissue like enamel but with a very different
composition. It is the second hardest tissue in the human body after dental enamel,
and contains by volume 70% inorganic material, 20% organic material, and 10% water.
 Odontoblasts are specialized cells that produce dentin

Types of dentine

 Primary Dentin
 Secondary Dentin
 Tertiary Dentin

Primary Dentin:

 Dentin formed before root completion

 Major part of dentin
 Primary dentin is the outermost layer of dentin and borders the enamel

Secondary Dentin:

 Secondary dentin is a layer of dentin produced after the root of the tooth is
completely formed
 Develops after root formation
 Slower rate of deposition
 Tubules less regular

Tertiary Dentin;

 Produced in reaction to various stimuli

 Attrition, caries, or a restorative dental procedure
 May have tubules
 continuous with those of secondary dentin
 sparse in number and irregularly arranged

Features of dentine

• Peritubular dentine: this is highly mineralised dentine found within each dentinal tubule
surrounding the odontoblast process and can be visualised as similar to ‘furred’ pipes.

• Interglobular dentine: these are areas of dentine that remain unmineralised.

• Incremental lines: these are produced due to the rhythmic pattern of dentinogenesis often
referred as contour lines of Owen.

• These lines are seen when dentinogenesis is disrupted (as with Amelogenesis).

• Neonatal line: this is only seen in primary teeth and first permanent molars as a line that
marks dentine formation before and after birth.

• Granular layer of Tomes: this is a narrow layer of granular dentine found in root dentine
immediately beneath the cementum
Cementum

Cementum: Cementum is a calcified connective tissue covering the outer surface of the
root of the tooth and provides a medium for insertion of periodontal ligament fibers.
Cementum is a specialized connective tissue that shares physical, chemical, and structural
properties of bone

Chemical composition of cementum

• 65% by weight inorganic (mainly hydroxyapatite).

• 33% organic (mainly collagen).

• 2% water.

Features of cementum

 Cemento-enamel junction: this can be variable.

• In approximately 60% of teeth the cementum overlaps the enamel: in approximately 30% of
teeth the cementum and enamel meet exactly and in approximately 10% of teeth the
cementum and enamel do not meet thus leaving an area of dentine exposed.

 Functional changes of cementum: cementum formation continues throughout life.

• The attachment of the periodontal fibers in cementum can alter according to the functional
needs of the tooth.

• Movement of teeth during orthodontic treatment or eruption can result in the periodontal
fibers becoming re-arranged and re-attached in a new position.