Dentin is the hard, mineralized connective tissue that forms the bulk of a tooth, lying beneath the enamel of the crown and the cementum of the root and surrounding the central pulp. It is a composite of inorganic hydroxyapatite crystals, an organic matrix rich in type I collagen, and water, a structure that makes d…
Dentin is the hard, mineralized connective tissue that forms the bulk of a tooth, lying beneath the enamel of the crown and the cementum of the root and surrounding the central pulp. It is a composite of inorganic hydroxyapatite crystals, an organic matrix rich in type I collagen, and water, a structure that makes dentin hard yet more elastic and less brittle than enamel, allowing it to support and cushion the overlying tissues. A defining feature of dentin is its arrangement of microscopic dentinal tubules, channels that radiate from the pulp toward the enamel and house the processes of odontoblasts, the cells that produce dentin throughout life. This tubular structure underlies dentin sensitivity, because fluid movement within the tubules can stimulate nerve endings in the pulp and provoke pain in response to thermal, mechanical, or osmotic stimuli. Odontoblasts and their precursors, including dental stem cells, are of particular interest for tissue regeneration. In restorative dentistry, dentin is central to procedures such as fillings, crowns, and bonding, where adhesion to dentin and the response of the pulp must be considered. Factors including light source and material thickness influence the photopolymerization of composite restorations placed against dentin and the heat generated during curing. Understanding dentin's composition, structure, and biology is fundamental to cariology, adhesive dentistry, endodontics, and regenerative dental research.
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