Tooth dentin is one of the most important parts of your teeth. From keeping the pulp safe to providing a secure site for enamel to bond to, it is often one of the most under-appreciated components in your teeth. The purpose of our article is to teach you about the role of tooth dentin and explain how it is formed. We will also explore how tooth dentin impacts tooth sensitivity and explain how you can treat this at home.
What Is the Dentin of a Tooth?
One of the main components of your teeth that is often forgotten is called dentin. Primarily composed of hydroxylapatite, dentin is yet another part of your tooth’s structure that is responsible for protecting the innermost sensitive areas.
To really be able to understand what does dentin do, you must first learn about the main components that comprise your teeth. Starting with the innermost layer is a section called the pulp. This area is comprised of a bundle of nerves, connective tissues, blood vessels, and more. One of its primary purposes is to help distribute nutrients to the surrounding tissue.
Unfortunately, this bundle of nerves is also extremely susceptible to pain. This can come from pressure and exposure to hot and cold foods. For this reason, there are several additional layers that cover the pulp to protect it.
The next layer is dentin. Dentin is primarily made up of a material called hydroxylapatite. The other components in it are a combination of organic matter and water. The most important function of dentin is to serve as a solid anchor for the outermost layer of your tooth’s structure. An important fact to keep in mind is that there are small pathways in dentin that lead to the pulp. It’s typically classified as the second hardest material in your teeth.
The final and outermost layer is enamel. Enamel is extremely hard and brittle. It’s the layer that is responsible for keeping your pulp safe. As long as your enamel remains intact and in good health, it should help prevent tooth pain.
What Produces Dentin in Teeth?
Now that you have a basic understanding of what dentin is, it’s time to learn about how it’s produced. For starters, the production of dentin is a process called dentinogenesis. Unlike the formation of enamel, dentin continues to grow back over the entire course of your life.
Going back to the basic structure of your teeth, let’s focus on the pulp area. In this area of your teeth are specialized cells called odontoblasts. These cells are responsible for the formation of dentin throughout your life.
One important thing to understand about dentin formation is that there are actually three different types of dentin. They are called primary dentin, secondary dentin, and tertiary dentin. Primary dentin is the most prominent type that lays between your enamel and pulp. The layer of dentin that is closest to the enamel is often called mantle dentin.
As for secondary dentin, it grows much more slowly than primary. It is typically seen when the tooth has erupted and is fully functional. This dentin is the main reason the pulp chamber tends to shrink as you age.
Tertiary dentin occurs as the result of stimulus. The most likely cause for tertiary dentin formation is cavities. This is used to help repair your tooth’s structure and to try to protect the delicate pulp area.
Why Is Caring for Tooth Dentin Important in Oral Care?
Whenever you look at your teeth, you’re often focused on the white enamel covering. What you need to understand is that enamel is one of the smallest portions of your tooth’s surface area. Dentin is the main component that is responsible for providing the shape and structure of your teeth.
Another point to keep in mind is that dentin can be repaired by your body’s natural functions. With enamel, you’re not able to replace that which has been lost to erosion and cavities. In fact, one of the main signs that your enamel has been worn down in certain areas is the presence of tooth sensitivity.
This occurs when the pain receptors in the pulp area are exposed to things like hot and cold temperatures through the natural channels in dentin. To combat this, you can switch to a sensitivity toothpaste like Sensodyne. These types of toothpaste tend to use an ingredient called potassium nitrate to help combat tooth sensitivity. These also contain fluoride to help aid in the process of remineralization as well.
Dentin and Teeth Whitening Treatments
Dentin also plays a major role in the success of both at home and professional whitening treatments. Whenever you’re undergoing a whitening treatment, you’re primarily targeting the enamel of your teeth. This area tends to absorb a wide range of stains from things like coffee, wine, and cigarettes.
Enamel tends to have a natural white finish that we all love to show off. However, the level of whitening you achieve is also determined by the natural color of your dentin as well. While it is possible to remove surface stains from dentin and improve its appearance, you cannot change its natural color.
What many people do not know is that dentin is a natural light yellow color. For most people, this color is so light that it isn’t noticeable and it shouldn’t impact your whitening treatment’s success. However, some people may have a naturally darker shade of dentin that limits the success of their whitening treatments. In addition, areas where the enamel is worn down will often appear dingier due to the exposed dentin surface.
Conclusion
Now that you know all about the important role that tooth dentin plays in your smile and oral health, you can help educate others and take better care of yourself. Just remember that dentin is always repairing itself and that you can help it by practicing good brushing and flossing habits. If you know any interesting facts about tooth dentin that you would like to share, feel free to post them in the comments area.
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