Dentin Oral Histology Ass. Prof. Dr/ Baleegh A.

Alkadasi
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Dentin
Definition

-Dentin is the mineralized tissue that

forms the bulk of the tooth.

- It forms the main part of the tooth

- In the crown, dentin is covered by

enamel and in the root it is covered by
cementum.

- It is rigid but elastic therefore ideal to

support enamel.

- Unlike enamel, dentin is a vital tissue containing the cell processes of odontoblasts and
neuron.

Physical Properties

- Color: It is yellowish in contrast to the whiter enamel.

- Hardness: with 20% less mineral than enamel, it is softer but harder than bone or
cementum.

- Permeability: it is highly permeable hard tissue due to the tubule extending from DEJ to
pulp.

- Resiliency: it is resilient or slightly elastic acting as a cushion under the hard brittle
enamel.

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- Thickness: it is thicker than enamel and increase with age.

Chemical properties

-Organic component
- 30 – 35 %
1. 20% collagen type l
2. 10% water

-Inorganic component

- 65 – 70 %

- hydroxyapatite crystals

Function of dentine:

1- Protect the pulp.

2- Give the yellow hue of enamel.
3- Act as shock absorber.
4- Determine the shape of the crown

Histological Structure
Dentine as any hard vital tissue consists of cells and intercellular substance.

- Odontoblast

- Dentinal tubule

- Odontoblastic process

- Peritubular dentin (intra tubular dentin)

- Inter tubular dentin

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- Incremental lines: :

1. Incremental lines

2. Intreglobular dentin

3. Granular layer of tomes

Odontoblasts
- They form a continuous layer of closely packed cells in the pulpal surface of dentin.
- They have variable length so their nuclei appear at different level.
- Each cell has a cytoplasmic process “tome's fiber "along the thickness of dentin present

in fine dentinal tubule.

Odontoblastic process
Each dentinal tubule contains odontoblastic process follow the course of dentinal tubule

Each process gives:

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1. Lateral branches: originate at right angle to their processes in lateral extension of

dentinal tubule and some of them unite with the other branches of adjacent processes.

2. Terminal branches:

- at the outer dentin surface.

- Two in number unite with

neighboring one to form plexus beneath
DEJ.

- In the crown, some terminal

branches cross the DEJ and protrude into
the enamel and called enamel spindle.

- In the root, the terminal branches end at CDJ and called granular layer of Tomes

Dentinal tubules:
They are the unit structure of dentine.

They are extend from DEJ &CEJ to the pulp wall

Course:

- In middle of the tooth, they have an S-shape

course (Primary curvature).
- Straight at the root tip and incisal edges and
cusps.
- Secondary curves: the tubules show
minute curvature along its primary course
called Secondary curves due to the spiral

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track taken by the odontoblast from the wide outer dentin surface to the narrow inner
pulpal surface.

Dimentions:

- Tubules is tapered structure

- 2.5µm near the pulp and 900nm near the DEJ.

Number: it is about 30.000/mm2 near the outer

dentine surface and 75.000/mm2 near the

pulp surface.

- The ratio between number of tubules/unit area

in the outer surface of dentine and in pulpal
surface (1:4).

Components of the tubules:

1. Odontoblatic process

2. Dentinal fluid.

3. Nerve fibers.

Peritubular dentin:
- It surrounds each odontoblastic process, forming the wall of the dentinal tubules.

- It is highly calcified (40% more than the rest of dentin (intertubular).

- Its width at the pulpal end is about 0.4µ, increasing to about 0.8µ at DEJ.

Intertubular dentin:

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- The main bulk of dentin is composed of inter tubular dentin

- It is located between the tubules

- It represents the first product of odontoblast.

- It consists of network of collagen fibers and appetite crystals.

Interglobular dentin:
These hypominerilized areas in
dentin where the globules of
calcospherites fail to fuse to form
homogenous mass mature dentin.
- More common in circumpulpal
dentin below the mantle dentin.
Granular layer of tomes (
hypomineralized areas )

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-they are dark spaces in the root dentin adjacent to cementum.

-Caused by a coalescing and looping of terminal portion of dentinal tubules in theroot
dentin .
- No dentinal tubules passing through it.

Incremental lines: hypocalcified

areas
- Incremental line of von ebner.

- Incremental line of owen.

- Neonatal line.

Incremental lines of von ebner.

- Dark lines.

-Run at right angle to the dentinal tubules

- represent the daily apposition of dentin

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-they are approximately 4-8 µm in length

Contour line of Owen:

If disturbance in calcification occurs, one or more incremental lines of von Ebner become
accentuated and are known as contour lines of Owen.

They are hypocalcified area.

Neonatal line.
It is incremental line separates the prenatal from postnatal dentin.

Neonatal lines are seen in all primary teeth and the first permanent molars.

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Dentinal junctions:
1- Dentino-enamel junction (see the enamel)
2- Dentino-cemental junction:
It is a smooth line very difficult to be seen. It marked by the Tomes’ granular layer.

Types of Dentin

Primary dentin:

is the dentin formed in a tooth before the completion of the apical foramen of the root.
Primary dentin is noted for its regular pattern of tubules.

Secondary dentin:

- is the dentin that is formed after the completion of the apical foramen and continues to
form throughout the life of the tooth.
- Formed slow in response to functional stimuli.
- Found in un-erupted teeth .
- Less mineralized
- Tubules regular .

Tertiary dentin:

- Reactionary, reparative and irregular secondary dentin in response to various stimuli

- Deposited rapid
- Irregular tubules

Peritubular (intratubular) dentin:

Dentin that creates the wall of the dentinal tubule.

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Intertubular dentin:

Dentin found between the tubules.

Mantle dentin:

The first predentin that forms and matures within the tooth.

Circumpulpal dentin:

The layer of dentin around the outer pulpal wall.

Aging changes:

1. Deposition of reparative dentin .

2. Dead tract.

3. Sclerotic dentin

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Dead tract:

- Empty dentinal tubules due to death of odontoblastic cells .

- Empty tubule give rise to pathway for bacteria in decay.

- Results from sever stimulas .

- They appear black in transmitted light and white in reflected light.

Sclerotic dentine " transparnet d "

- The dentinal tubules filled with dentin material.

- Cause due to atression and slow caries (mild stimulas ) .
- Stimulate may not only induce additional formation of reparative dentin but also lead
to protective changes in existing dentin.
- In the area of trauma the odontoblastic processes reduced in diameter and begin
secreating matrix substances.
- Odontoblast degenerate and the tubules of degenerated odontoblast are calcified.
- Seen mostly in older individuals.
- Considered as a defensive mechanism of dentin

Theories of dentin sensitivity

1. Direct neural theory

2. Odontoblastic transduction theory

3. Fluid or Hydro-dynamic theory

1- Direct neural theory– the dentin contains

nerve endings that respond when it is stimulated
.

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2-Odontoblastic transduction theory– the odontoblasts serve as receptors and are

coupled to nerves in the pulp.

3- Fluid or Hydro-dynamic theory (Fluid movements in the dentinal tubules) – the

tubular nature of dentin permits fluid movement to occur within the tubule when a
stimulus is applied – a movement registered by pulpal free nerve endings close to the
dentin

Clinical considerations
• Permeability of dentin

• Response to external stimuli: 2ry & 3ry Dentin

• Adhesion of external materials to dentin: smear layer, etching then bonding

• Endodontics: 2ry & 3ry Dentin may complicate endo treatment

• Sensitivity of exposed Dentin: by occluding opened tubules

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