:Histological Study of Hard Dental Tissues

Physical properties
Chemical Composition
Inorganic phase
Organic phase

Development (genesis):
Forming cells: (life history)
Matrix formation (protein synthesis)
Calcification (mineralization)

Ultra-structure
Structural unit-Regional variation

Incremental lines
Age changes

 ENAMEL
The hardest calcified tissue in the body
forms the protective covering of the crown

:PHYSICAL PROPERTIES *
COLO R

TH ICKNES S

HAR DNESS

BRI TT LEN ESS

PER MEA BILI TY

COLOUR - 1

YELLOWIH
WHITE TO
GRAYISH
WHITE
: Depends on
Degree of -1
calcification
Homogenisity of -2
the enamel

YELLOWISH
teeth….
Translucent
enamel
THICKNESS - 2

mm 2.5 – 2. at -
the cusps of
the molars
and
.premolars
Thinning down -
to
almost knife
edge at the
cervical
margin of the
tooth
 HARDNESS – 3
ENAMEL-
IT IS THE HARDEST
MICROHARDNESS + +
IS ENAMEL
CALCIFIED OF
- 1GREATEST - AT IN
TISSUE THE-
THETHE PERMANENT
BODY
SURFACE AND
+
TEETH
:DUE
DECREASED TO E. IS
TOWARD -
+
HARDER
HIGH
.DEJ THANOF -1
CONTENT -
ITTHETHAT
IS OF
- MINERAL
2 GREATER SALTS
AT THE
ITS
CUSPS DECIDUOUS
CRYSTALLINE
AND INCISAL-2 -
’ONES
.ARRANGEMENT
RIDGE ANDDECREASES
TOWARD THECERVICAL
.LINE
 BRITTLNESS - 4

ITS STRUCTURE AND HARDNESS

RENDER IT BRITTLE, SPECILY
WHEN IT LOOSES ITS ELASTIC
FOUNDATION OF HEALTHY
DENTIN

ASG
 PERMEABILITY -5
CERTAIN ENAMEL HAS A-
DEGREE OF
MAINLY PER. IS-
PERMEABILTY
DEMONSTRATED
FROM SALIVA TOBY
DYES AND
OUTER RADIOACTIVE
LAYER OF
ISOTOPES
ENAMEL, BUT LESS
T FROM
ACTS THE
AS A -
PULP TO
SEMIPERMEABLE
THE INNER ENAMEL
MEMBRANE FOR
LAYER ACROSS
CERTAIN IONS AND
.THE DENTIN
DYESTUFFS OF SMALL
MOLECULAR SIZE
THROUGH PORES
BETWEEN THE
 :CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

INORGANIC ORGANIC
CONTENT CONTENT
By weight
96% 4%
CRYSTALLINE CALCIUM PHOSPHATE
“HYDROXYAPATITE” AMELOGENINS
Ca 10(PO4)6 (OH)2 ENAMELINS and Water
GROUND SECTION DECALCIFIED SECTION

Methods of Studying
”hard tissues ”
:STRUCTURAL UNIT
ENAMEL ROD
or PRISM

NUMBER:

DIRECTION:

COURSE:

DIAMETER:

:Longitudinal section

: Cross Section
ENAMEL PRISM
LOWER CENTRAL INCISOR
NUMBER - 1 5 MILLIONS
UPPER FIRST MOLAR
12 MILLIONS

DIRECTION - 2

D
p
ENAMEL PRISM
STRUCTURELESS
ENAMEL
3 - COURSE

DENTINO-ENAMEL
MEMBRANE
Wavy Course of Enamel Rods
GNARLED ENAMEL
: longitudinal Section
: Cross Section ,Hexagonal, fish scales
keyhole pattern
 Ameloblast

Tomes process
 SUBMICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF
ENAMEL ROD

Key hole
analogy
Enamel rod

T.S T.S

L.S L.S
 Key-hole
Enamel prism
Pattern
Interprismatic Prism
region
sheath
Head of keyhole Boundary around”
“core” “Tail region” the head
HUNTER-SCHREGER BANDS
(optical phenomenon) dark and light bands
HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURES OF
ENAMEL

 Incremental lines
 Enamel lamellae
 Enamel tufts
 Enamel spindle
 Dentinoenamel junction
 STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF ENAMEL

Incremental lines:
 CROSS
STRAIATIONS
(short increment)

 INCREMENTAL LINES
OF RETZIUS
(long increment )
 INCREMENTAL LINES OF RETZIUS
(long increment )
 Cross Striations

Incremental lines of
Retzius
Enamel Rods
 • NEONATAL LINE

dentin

PRENATAL POSTNATAL POSTNATAL PRENATAL

ENAMEL ENAMEL ENAMEL ENAMEL
Before birth After birth
Incremental lines of Retzius
Surface manifestation : Perikymata
 Structural features in Enamel

 1- ENAMEL LAMELLAE

 2- ENAMEL TUFTS

 3- Dentino - Enamel
Junction
Enamel lamellae
 Enamel lamellae
In enamel Extending in enamel and
only dentin
Enamel Spindles
THE AMELODENTINAL
JUNCTION

ENAMEL

DENTIN
PRIMARY ENAMEL
CUTICLE
((Nasmyth’s membrane
- 0.2 um thick.
- Its structure is
similar to the
basal lamina of
the epithelium.
- It is the last
product of the
ameloblasts.

ASG
PR IM ARY ENA ME L C UT IC LE

1ry
e.cuticle
Longitudinal Ground Section
Transverse Ground Section
HUNTER-SCHREGER BANDS
(optical phenomenon) dark and light bands

Observed in L.s ground section under reflected light

 SURFACE STRUCTURES
OF ENAMEL

* OUTER STRUCTURELESS ENAMEL

*PERIK YMAT A

*E NAME L RO D E NDS

* CRACK s

*Afibrillar cem ent um

SURFACE STRUCTURES

OUTER STRUCTURELESS ENAMEL – 1

REMEMBER: THAT THERE IS AN INNER STRUCTURELESS
ENAMEL

um thick 30
 Perikymata
Surface manifestation of Incremental lines of
Retzius
 Perikymata

PARALLELTO EACH OTHER

AND TO C.E.J.
CONTINUOUSAROUND THE
TOOTH.
30/ mm – AT THE REGION OF
C.E.J.
10/ mm – NEAR TO THE
OCCLUSAL OR INCISAL
EDGES
Enamel Rod Ends

SHALLOWER
CERVICALLY
DEEPER OCCLUSALLY
CRACKs
AFIBRILLAR
CEMENTUM

C
SALIVARY PELLICLE
Age changes of Enamel
 Attrition
 Decreased Permeability
 Increased Hardness (ionic
exchange)
 Color changes
Attrition

Dentin
 PERMEABILITY - 2

Recently Main path Old enamel

Erupted teeth
ASG