Difference Between Enamel And Dentin
Enamel is the protective outer layer of teeth. It’s shiny, hard, and covers the sensitive tissues inside your teeth to help keep them healthy. Dentin is a substance that’s very similar to bone. This hard, shiny surface helps keep your teeth clean by preventing food particles from ever reaching your sensitive tissues. It can take years for enamel to fully form, so it’s important to take care of your teeth throughout life with regular brushing and flossing.
Dentin is the tissue that makes up the majority of your tooth. It’s thick and hard, but it doesn’t protect the sensitive parts of your teeth like enamel does. Dentin is made up of thousands of tiny tubes which can hold and conduct microscopic nerve endings. If large numbers of these tubules are exposed to the surface of a tooth it becomes extremely sensitive to cold or heat.
What is the Function Of Enamel And What Is It Made Of?
It’s the hardest substance in the human body and is known for its bright white color. Enamel is made up of organic materials, primarily collagen, which is arranged into highly organized crystal formations or hydroxyapatite.
The ratio of enamel to dentin (and therefore thickness) can vary depending on where you’re looking inside of a mouth. This is due to the fact that there are five different types of enamel, each with its own unique density and composition, that ultimately serve different purposes. While some parts of your teeth may only have one type of enamel (like the part directly below your gum line), other areas like chewing surfaces will contain all five types. The more functional area is at resisting wear and tear, and acid damage. Because enamel is so strong it can take up to 5 years to fully form after the first adult tooth erupts through your gums.
What is the Function Of Dentin?
Dentin contains microscopic tubules that conduct nerve endings and blood vessels. It’s much softer than enamel, which is due to the fact that it has a trabecular pattern instead of being solid bone. The main job of dentin is to serve as a shock absorber in order to prevent damage from occurring in other parts of your teeth. And while it’s porous in nature, re-hardening can lead to increased thickness and strength. This tends to happen as a person ages.
Can you Strengthen Enamel?
Dental restoration is a term used when a dentist replaces a missing tooth or part of a tooth. Restorations can be either cosmetic, to fix apparent defects in appearance; or structural, to strengthen teeth and hold them in the correct position.
If you have damaged enamel there are many ways that your dentist can restore it back to its natural form. In fact, today’s dental materials can do things that were once unattainable-like matching the color perfectly with no fear of future staining! There are also remedies for sensitivity if that’s an issue you’re currently facing. You can learn more about this on Regenerate.
Enamel is vital to the health of your teeth because it protects against decay and damage from bacteria and acids produced by certain foods and drinks. If you’re having dental issues such as tooth decay, enamel erosion, or hypersensitivity, call your dentist and schedule an appointment.
As you can see, enamel and dentin are two very different components of teeth. They are both a vital part of a person’s oral health, but they serve different purposes. While enamel protects the dentin from damage and decay, it can also be restored back to its natural state by a dental professional in case of damage.
Dentin is much less dense than enamel and does not protect teeth from harm or tooth decay nearly as well. Dentin has microscopic tubules that conduct nerve endings and blood vessels throughout the tooth, making it more sensitive to pain from hot or cold temperatures.
