WEEK 6 - ENAMEL Flashcards
what makes enamel a unique tissue?
it lacks cells within or on its surface
Enamel is the most ________________ tissue
highly mineralized
how many pounds per square inch can enamel withstand?
100,000
What does the colour of enamel determine?
the degree of calcification
Is yellow or grey enamel stronger?
yellow
Where is enamel the thickest?
incisal/occlusal surface
How thick can enamel be?
0-2.6 mm
What makes enamel so hard?
high mineral content and complex crystal orientation
Hardness and density of enamel decreases from where to where?
the surface towards interior, and incisal tip to cervical margin
What makes enamel brittle?
Large amounts of minerals
Why is dentine so important?
it is less mineralized therefore it compensates for enamels brittleness. It supports enamel
Is enamel permeable?
it is a semi permeable membrane for fluoride ions and saliva
what is the chemical composition of enamel?
96% inorganic, 1% organic and 3% water
What is the functional unit of enamel?
rods
how many enamel rods are on permanent lower incisors?
5 million
how many enamel rods are on permanent upper first molars?
12 million
What is the direction of enamel rods?
wavy
What are gnarled enamel?
complex course of enamel rods at the incisal edge to withstand chewing
What are the 6 stages of ameloblast formation?
differentiating, secretory, transitional, maturative, protective, desmolytic
What happens in the differentiation stage?
the inner enamel epithelium differentiates into preameloblasts and the outer cells of the dental papilla are induced to differentiate into odontoblasts.
What is Induction?
preamoblasts inducing the formation of odontoblasts
Secretory Stage: What is reciprocal induction?
preameloblasts changing into ameloblasts by signals from odontoblasts