Parts of a Tooth and Their Functions
Have you ever wondered about different parts of your teeth and their functions? How about what your teeth look like on the inside or what they’re made of? Well, now you can know! Your tooth has four main parts, each with important roles to keep your mouth healthy:
– Enamel: Enamel is the hard calcified tissue on the surface of your teeth. It protects the dentin from acid and plaque. Because it has no living cells, enamel can’t protect itself from damage and needs good oral care to stay strong.
– Dentin: Dentin is a sensitive layer of living tissue that communicates with the nerves in your teeth. If your teeth appear darker, it could be the dentin showing through the enamel. When dentin is exposed, your teeth may become very sensitive to heat and cold because these elements are directly contacting the nerves.
– Cementum: Cementum is a hard connective tissue that covers tooth roots. It assists in supporting the tooth by anchoring the fibers of the periodontal ligament. Cementum helps prevent you from losing teeth prematurely.
– Pulp: Pulp is the non-calcified tissue at the center of the tooth that contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. Your teeth receive nourishment from the pulp.
Because these four components are so important, we encourage you to take good care of them by brushing and flossing every day and visiting the dentist every six months. To learn more about caring for your teeth, feel free to contact Werschky, Lewis & Slatton Family Dentistry at (810) 671-5616 and schedule an appointment with our dentist.