The importance of your teeth is obvious when you do something like bite into corn on the cob. Beyond the role of breaking food down into digestible particles, your teeth provide the structure for your smile. Confident smiles can affect job performance, relationships, and general quality of life. Did you know that you wouldn’t even be able to whistle if you didn’t have teeth? The part of a tooth that we can see is called the crown, but there’s a lot going on in the roots of your teeth, below the gumline. Dallas and Richardson dentist, Dr. Truong, discusses the anatomy of your teeth.
Tooth Enamel
Can you believe that the second hardest material on earth is the enamel on your teeth? Diamonds are the only substance that is harder. Tooth enamel covers the crowns of teeth, and is designed to protect everything beneath it. The strong barrier is not infallible, however, and can fall victim to chips and cracks from injuries, or chewing things that are too hard, like ice cubes. Food and drinks that produce acid can also damage tooth enamel.
All About Dentin
Mostly comprised of minerals, dentin creates the bulk of teeth. Enamel is translucent, so dentin is responsible for how white your teeth appear. Within dentin, tubules extend into the root area of the tooth. These microscopic pathways make dentin a sort of highway for sensations to the nerves, should parts of the enamel dissolve or break.
Tooth Pulp
Odontoblasts are cells and connective tissues that exist in the center of your teeth, within what is known as the pulp. Ondontoblasts in the pulp are able to form new dentin. This serves a reparative function in the case of decay or injuries to teeth. From a sensory standpoint, this part of the tooth has the important job of transmitting pain if there is anything wrong, so that you can seek dental attention.
If you are experiencing any issues with any of the parts of your teeth, or you are due for a checkup, make an appointment with Dr. Truong. Call our Dallas dentist office at (214) 337-7800, or our Richardson dentist office at (972)437-6000. Viva Dental takes pride in providing a pleasant dental experience for the whole family. We serve patients in the 75211 and 75080 zip codes, and surrounding areas.
