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A tooth may look like a hard,
solid structure. This cut-away illustration however,
reveals that a tooth is really a complex system of
specialized tissues.
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Enamel
Enamel is the
shiny, hard, white covering of the tooth is the
strongest tissue in your body. It has to be as chewing
places as much as 320 Newtons of force on your teeth
when you bite, clench, or grind.
Dentin
Dentin makes
up most of the body of the tooth. Even though dentin
is hard and feels solid to the touch, it’s actually
microscopically porous and needs a covering of enamel
or an artificial crown to protect it from decay
causing bacteria in the saliva.
Pulp
Pulp is the
inner soft core that contains blood vessels, nerves,
and fibrous connective tissue. The pulp provides
nourishment for the tooth during its growth and
development. Once the tooth is mature, the pulp
remains the nutritional and sensory component of the
tooth. A fully developed tooth can survive without the
pulp provided root canal therapy is performed.
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Bone
Bone anchors
the roots of the teeth to the jaw. Healthy teeth
stimulate and keep bone tissue healthy and vice versa.
Loss of teeth causes loss of the bone that holds them
in place. This can prove very damaging when replacing
lost teeth with prosthetic appliances or implants.
The Root
The root is
the part of the tooth that sits in the bone below the
gum. The root or roots of the tooth is usually twice
as long as the crown, the part you see above the
gumline. Front teeth usually have one root, bicuspids
two and molars two or three or four. Each root can
have one, two or more CANALS.
The periodontal
ligament
Like the
springs that hold a trampoline to its frame, the
periodontal ligament supports the tooth and holds it
in place in the bony socket surrounding the tooth.
This tissue cushions both the tooth and the
surrounding bone against the shock of chewing and
biting
Gum or gingiva
Gum or
gingiva covers the bone surrounding the teeth.
Brushing and flossing after meals or snacks keeps this
tissue healthy. This is important because gum disease
can cause bone lose. Gum disease can also expose the
tooth roots to decay, which if unchecked, can cause
pulpal inflammation and the need for root canal
therapy.
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