The primary mass of a tooth is formed by the dentin. In the crown part, the dentin is covered by the enamel, while in the root part, it is covered by cement.

The transition between the cement and enamel is the neck part at which the cement thinly layers on the enamel. This connection is known as the cemento-enamel junction.

The cement and dentin are formed by so-called bone tissue, while the enamel is a secretion of special mineralized epithelial cells. Although the teeth look like bones, they have different histology than that of the bones.

The enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. It forms a durable layer that protects the tooth from various harmful factors. The thickness of the enamel is not the same everywhere. The hardest part is its top part, while closer to the dentin, the hardness gradually decreases. The enamel is the only tooth part that can heal by itself.

The enamel of a newly erupted tooth is covered by a delicate membrane called the primary enamel cuticle (also known as the Nasmyth’s membrane). It gets removed during the mastication process. However, usually, it remains intact on the sides of the crown that are close to the gingiva. The primary enamel cuticle has a protective role, and it is acid-resistant.

Every tooth has a pulp cavity (or chamber) in the middle of the crown and neck. It contains blood vessels and nerves. The pulp cavity converts into a narrow pulp or root canal in the root part. Every root canal ends with a small opening called the apical foramen (root end opening). It is the site through which the nerves and blood vessels enter the root canal to reach the pulp cavity.

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Teeth microanatomy