Dentine

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

forms the main bulk of a tooth + occupies the interior of the crown + root. also mineralised, but lesser extent than enamel + is covered by enamel in crown of tooth + by cementum in the root.
Its properties + microscopic structures:

Question 2

1.

Answer 2

consists of 80% inorganic tissue, mainly calcium hydroxyapatite crystals

Question 3

2.

Answer 3

composed of hollow tubes which originally surrounded the cells within the dentine structure as it was first being formed

Question 4

3.

Answer 4

in a fully formed tooth, these odontoblast cells lie along the inner edge of the pulp chamber only, but are present throughout life + can lay down more dentine as required
in this way, it can repair itself by laying down secondary dentine

Question 5

4.

Answer 5

this type of dentine is also formed as part of the natural ageing process, + its formation gradually narrows the pulp chamber

Question 6

5.

Answer 6

dentine is therefore a living tissue + can transmit sensation of pain + thermal changed to the brain

Question 7

6.

Answer 7

its hollow structure allows it a degree of elasticity os it can absorb normal chewing forces without breaking
however, it allows tooth decay to spread more rapidly through its hollow structure

Question 8

7.

Answer 8

dentine is yellowish in colour, + gives teeth their individual shade