Tooth enamel

Tooth enamel is the hardest and most mineralized substance of the body {{ref|ross_body}}, and with dentin and cementum is one of the three major parts of the tooth. It is the normally visible dental tissue of a tooth and must be supported by underlying dentin. Ninety-six per cent of enamel consists of minerals, with water and organic material composing the rest {{ref|cate_organic}}. The color of enamel is light yellow to grayish white. At the edges of teeth where there is no dentin underneath the enamel, the color sometimes has a slightly blue tone. Since enamel is semitranslucent, the color of dentin and any restorative dental material underneath the enamel strongly affects the appearance of a tooth. Enamel varies in thickness over the surface of the tooth and is often thickest at the cusp, up to 2.5 mm, and thinnest at its border, which is seen clinically as the cementoenamel junction (CEJ){{ref|cate_thickness}}.

Related Topics:
Dentin - Cementum - Tooth - Appearance - Cusp - Cementoenamel junction

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Enamel's primary mineral is hydroxyapatite, which is a crystalline calcium phosphate {{ref|biology_hydroxy}}. The large amount of minerals in enamel accounts not only for its strength but also for its brittleness {{ref|cate_brittle}}. Dentin, which is less mineralized and less brittle, compensates for enamel and is necessary as a support {{ref|biology_dentin}}.

Related Topics:
Hydroxyapatite - Crystalline - Calcium phosphate

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Unlike dentin and bone, enamel does not contain collagen. Instead, it has two unique classes of proteins called amelogenins and enamelins. While the role of these proteins is not fully understood, it is believed that they aid in the development of enamel by serving as a framework support, among other functions {{ref|cate_framework}}.

Related Topics:
Bone - Collagen - Proteins - Amelogenins - Enamelins

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