What is the clinical significance of enamel lamellae?
The enamel lamellae are shown to be a permeable pathway allowing caries-producing bacteria access to the dentine-enamel junction. Caries can thus be established within the tooth without visible evidence at the surface.
What do enamel tufts do?
Enamel tufts are hypomineralized ribbon-like structures that run longitudinally to the tooth axis and extend from the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) one fifth to a third into the enamel. Biomechanically, enamel tufts are ”closed cracks” or defects which, in their manner of propagating, act to prevent enamel fractures.
What is enamel and its function?
INTRODUCTION. Dental enamel is the hardest substance in the human body and serves as the wear-resistant outer layer of the dental crown. It forms an insulating barrier that protects the tooth from physical, thermal, and chemical forces that would otherwise be injurious to the vital tissue in the underlying dental pulp.
Where is the enamel?
Enamel is the thin outer covering of the tooth. This tough shell is the hardest tissue in the human body. Enamel covers the crown which is the part of the tooth that’s visible outside of the gums. Because enamel is translucent, you can see light through it.
What are the types of enamel lamellae?
They may be classified as Type A, Type B and Type C, based on its extension, cause of formation and contents. Based on time of development, they may be classified as pre- and post-eruptive enamel lamellae.
What is the difference between enamel tufts and enamel spindles?
Enamel tufts are “small, branching defects that are found only at the DEJ, protruding into the enamel towards the enamel surface. Enamel spindles however, are in fact odontoblast processes that extend into the enamel.
What is the function of enamel rod?
An enamel rod is the basic unit of tooth enamel. Measuring 4 μm wide to 8 μm high, an enamel rod is a tightly packed, highly organized mass of hydroxyapatite crystals, which are hexagonal in shape and provide rigidity to the rods and strengthen the enamel.
Why is the enamel important?
Enamel plays an important role in maintaining healthy teeth. It protects the inner layers of teeth from being damaged by dietary acids and helps keep your teeth looking white. It also cannot be restored, so it is important to ensure your enamel stays healthy.
What are the characteristics of enamel?
Enamel is the most mineralized tissue of the body, forming a very hard, thin, translucent layer of calcified tissue that covers the entire anatomic crown of the tooth. It can vary in thickness and hardness on each tooth, from tooth to tooth and from person to person.
What causes the color of enamel?
Aging: As you age, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away exposing the yellow dentin. Your tooth dentin also grows as you age, which decreases the size of the pulp. The translucency of the tooth reduces, making it look darker. Genetics: Thicker and whiter enamel runs in some families.
Which is the best description of an enamel lamella?
an organic defect in enamel; a thin, leaflike structure that extends from the enamel surface toward the dentinoenamel junction. Microscopic cracks or calcification imperfections in the enamel surface of a tooth.
Where are the lamellae located in the tooth?
Enamel Lamellae. In this ground cross-section, note the structure passing from the surface of the enamel to the D-E junction (A). This is an enamel lamella (B). Enamel lamellae are fissure-like defects that extend along the longitudinal axis of the tooth down to the dentin layer (C).
What is the medical definition of a lamella?
Medical Definition of lamella 1 : an organ, process, or part resembling a plate: as 2 : a small medicated disk prepared from gelatin and glycerin for use especially in the eyes lamellae of atropine
What is the hypomineralized structure of the enamel?
Enamel lamellaeare a type of hypomineralized structure in teeth that extend either from the dentinoenameljunction (DEJ) to the surface of the enamel, or vice versa. In essence, they are prominent linear enamel defects, but are of no clinical consequence. These structures contain proteins, proteoglycans, and lipids.
