“What Are Your Teeth Made Of?”

Posted by drgracesun on June 16, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Information, Nutrition and Diet, Technology | Be the First to Comment

What are your teeth made of? What is in that precious white enamel ? What is inside your teeth? Teeth play a very important role in our mental and physical health. The function of our teeth not only play a role in allowing speech, but also help us to cut and chew food as the first step in our digestion system.

It is only natural to be curious about what teeth are made of and how they function within our mouth. The root anchors the tooth below the gum’s surface into the jaw bone, while the crown of the tooth extends out past the gum. The outermost hard shiny layer of the tooth is called enamel, and is the hardest substance in the body and functions as a food grinder. 92- 96% of enamel consists of minerals (hydroxyapatite, a phosphate and calcium salt) with the remaining part being water and organic material .

Lying just beneath the hard, shiny enamel surface of every tooth is the dentin layer. This layer of the tooth is composed mainly of calcified bony-like tissue (mostly hydroxylapatite), and like bone it contains collagen, water and other organic components (and is soft in consistency). Throughout the dentin layer are tiny passageways into the deep pulpal layer, connected to the enamel layer – these passages are known as tubules. Unlike enamel, dentin continues to modify throughout a person’s entire life. Dentin can grow or reform in response to a change in tooth conditions, such as tooth decay or attrition.

The innermost layer of the tooth is known as the pulpal layer. This inner sanctum of every tooth consists of nerves and blood vessels.  This pulp benefits the teeth in several ways: primarily, the pulp keeps the organic components of the teeth healthy and properly supplied with moisture and nutrients. The pulp also conduces senses such as heat, cold and trauma from the teeth into the body’s nervous system.

The important thing to remember about your tooth structure is that it is subject to change – when bacteria and other substances (like alcohol, smoke or even sugary liquid) is introduced into your oral environment, prompt cleaning (with a toothbrush and floss) is necessary to prevent premature decay. Once decay passes through the enamel layer into the dentin, decay will progress rapidly, even when not easily detectable from visual inspection. Only when the enamel has caved in and broken down does a cavity become visible. If the cavity was not treated early and the underlying dentin layer has already decayed (which can actually extend deep into the pulpal tissue), root canal therapy may be necessary, requiring a post and crown to restore the tooth. Ultimately, prevention is the best solution. Proper home care and regular dental check-ups can detect problems early, and are usually fixed easily.

“How Do Teeth Grow?”

Posted by drgracesun on February 1, 2009 under Information, Smart Smile | Be the First to Comment

Sure, we develop two sets of teeth (baby and permanent) over the course of our lives, and they are made of enamel and dentin . But what do you really know about tooth development?

Tooth development is a complex process by which form from embryonic cells, grow and emerge into the mouth. The key to a healthy oral environment in which teeth can thrive, enamel, dentin, cementum and periodontium must all develop properly at the right time during fetal development. Baby (primary) teeth begin to develop at the 6 – 8 week mark in the womb. Adult (permanent) teeth develop at the 20 week mark in the womb. Formation of tissues within the branchial arch is the process that actually initiates tooth development. During pregnancy, proper prenatal care is essential for the future smile of the young life.

There are four stages your teeth develop into before becoming fully fledged teeth. The first stage, the bud stage, is characterized by the appearance of a tooth bud with no clear cell arrangement. This stage occurs when the fetus is approximately 6 weeks old. The second stage, the cap stage, is when cell arrangement becomes evident. Extracellular substances are produced resulting in an aggregation of these cells, as the tooth bud takes on the appearance of a cap, and becomes the enamel (dental organ). This is also the stage when supporting structures of the tooth are developed. The third stage, the bell stage, is characterized by a bell-shaped dental organ. The bulk of the tooth’s biological development and maturation take place during this stage. The final stage, the crown stage, is when tissues (like enamel and dentin) are hardened and important cellular changes occur, including adding new material to the outer developing surface of the  tooth. Dentin formation, called dentinogenesis, is the first discernable sign of the crown stage, and occurs before enamel can be formed. Enamel formation, called amelogenesis, occurs after dentinogenesis. Environmental influences (like if the child suffers from fever, or is taking tetracycline antibiotics) can cause discoloration of permanent teeth.

Tooth eruption, which occurs between 6 months and two years of age, is the process of tooth development when teeth break the gum layer and become visible. Primary teeth stay in the mouth until around 6 years of age, at which point they are gradually replaced by permanent teeth. The first set of permanent teeth come in behind the twenty primary teeth at age 6. Sealant can be placed on to these teeth to prevent tooth decay. The last primary teeth will exfoliate around age 12 to be replaced by second bicuspids. This is called the mixed stage, when both primary and permanent teeth are present. Orthodontic treatment can be performed at the mixed stage; the most common age to receive braces is between 9 and 12.

The 3rd molars erupt around age 16 to 18. This is the stage when people are supposed to be wiser, so they are called wisdom teeth! Due to evolution, only one out of every 25 people have a jaw size that can accommodate all 32 teeth, so most of us need to have our wisdom teeth removed (lest problems be created with crowding or crooked teeth, which can lead to tooth decay and gum problems). Most of us have 28 teeth; with proper care, all 28 teeth can be kept throughout our life!

If you end up missing one or more permanent teeth, proper restorations should be made to assure the adequate support of your facialmuscular system to maintain its health. Such restorations will also help to prevent oral conditions from deteriorating due to shifting or tilted teeth (causing difficulty in maintaining healthy oral conditions). There are options for missing tooth problems; be sure to consult with your dental professional!