What Is the Inside of a Tooth Like?

Teeth are a central part of overall health and well-being. But, what's going on beneath that shiny white surface?

Let's dig a little deeper to find out about the various constructions and components that keep the teeth healthy and active.

Enamel: This is the hard, shiny outer shell that surrounds the crown of the tooth. Although it's one of the most durable substances in the human body, it's still likely to degenerate due to bacteria and acids in the mouth. The enamel cannot be re-established once it's gone, so be sure to rinse the mouth with water after ingesting acidic or sweet or foods and remember to brush often to avoid enamel erosion and cavities.

Crown: A part that sticks up above the gum line. The crown has the highest exposure to environmental elements such as the beverages and foods, as well as cigarette smoke and additional substances that may be absorbed or inhaled.

Pulp: Pulp resides beneath the dentin and makes up the core of the tooth. The pulp is made up of lymph vessels, nerve tissues, and blood as well. This material offers nutrients to the rest of the tooth to help keep it stable, and it plays an imperative role in sensing pain and temperature. When the pulp becomes damaged or infected, it is part of the root canal process.

Dentin: Dentin is a layer of bony tissue below the enamel. Dentin has many small channels, or tubules, that run across it into the nerve chamber. When the enamel rubs away, the tubules are bare, which causes pain to transmit more readily to the nerve.

Root: This is the portion of the tooth that runs from the gum line into the jawbone area. A tooth can have anywhere from one to three roots, varying on which tooth it is. The root holds the nerve, which runs into the jawbone. With a root canal procedure, the dentist will go into this area to extract the nerve, which means the tooth will no longer feel discomfort.

Nerve and Blood Supply: The nerve flows from the pulp chamber in the center of the tooth down through each of the roots and into the jaw. The blood supply for each tooth also runs through the roots and goes into the pulp chamber. The nerve and blood supply is essential for a developing tooth but isn't completely necessary once the tooth appears. A tooth can stay in the mouth, even after the extraction of the nerve and blood supply during a root canal process, as an adult, the tooth has all the mechanisms and properties it needs to function on a daily basis'.

Cementum: Cementum is an added kind of tissue that defends the roots much like enamel protects the crown of the tooth. Cementum is less hard than enamel and thinner, but it has tons of small fibers that assist anchor the tooth to the surrounding bone.

Periodontal Membrane: This soft fleshy tissue helps make up the tooth sockets and anchors the tooth to the mouth as well as to the other teeth. The periodontal membrane generates a cushioning effect, which helps the teeth withstand the pressure of chewing.

The tooth is a pretty impressive little structure and an essential function in the body for overall health.

Request an appointment in our Milwaukee dentist office here: https://www.esdmke.com.