ENAMEL Flashcards
the hard, outer
surface layer of
the teeth that
serves to protect
against tooth decay
ENAMEL
hardest calcified tissue in the human body
ENAMEL
Is the enamel harder or more mineralized at the surface
yes
What is the color of the enamel
white to grayish-white, slightly yellow appearance only
Is it translucent?
yes
Does the enamel provide the shape and contour of the
crowns of teeth
yes
Does the enamel act as semipermeable membrane
yes
Is enamel a good conductor of both heat and electricity
No
Is it vital and capable of regeneration
No
Choose which part of the tooth is enamel thickest with 2.0-2.5mm
crest of cusps or incisal edges
fissures and pit facial, lingual
and interproximal surfaces
cervical margin
crest of cusps or incisal edges
Choose which part of the tooth is enamel thinner with 1.0 – 1.5 m
crest of cusps or incisal edges
fissures and pit facial, lingual
and interproximal surfaces
cervical margin
fissures and pit facial, lingual
and interproximal surfaces
Choose which part of the tooth is enamel thinnest with <100µm
crest of cusps or incisal edges
fissures and pit facial, lingual
and interproximal surfaces
cervical margin
cervical margin
What is the inorganic material of enamel?
Hydroxyapatite crystals
Varying amount of carbonates
Trace elements (vanadium, manganese, selenium, molybdenum &
strontium)
What is the organic material of enamel?
Soluble and insoluble proteins:
Amino acid
Predominantly enamelins
immature enamel
AMELOGENNINS
mature enamel
ENAMELINS
Basic structural unit of enamel
ENAMEL RODS
Enamel rods are first described as
hexagonal or prism-like
Enamel rods are more appropriately described as a
cylindrical rod
Enamel rod has a pattern of
“horseshoe” or
“paddle-shaped” or
“racquet-shaped” with a head and
tail
Number of enamel rods
5 – 12 millions
Direction of enamel rods
Run in oblique direction and wavy
course
Length of enamel rods
greater than the thickness of enamel
Diameter average of enamel rods
4 µm
Appearance of enamel rods
clear crystalline
appearance