Dentin, the second layer of the crown structure and outer layer of the root, is much softer than enamel, and microscopically looks like a hard natural sponge consisting of tubules filled with moisture and nerve tentacles from the pulp. Any changes in the water pressure, temperature, or chemistry send signals to the nerve resulting in pain. This structure is not resistance to acid or bacteria which can infect the pulp and cause the tooth to die.

The inner pulp structure is basically comprised of soft nerve and blood tissue housed in the hollow center of the tooth. The pulp which is necessary for tooth formation later prevents the tooth from weakening. Fractures can be better avoided by having a healthy pulp sensitive to foreign oral objects. When the nerve is removed, as in root canal therapy, the tooth dries out and may not last your lifetime. Therefore, it must be cover with a crown to prevent serious fractures.

Inflammation of the pulp, causes the nerve to die. Excessive bruxing, malocclusion, deep caries, replacing large fillings or crowns, drinking hot beverages, chewing on ice, trauma, deep fractures, periodontal disease, missing fillings, and rapid movement in orthodontics.

Our goal at Willowdaile Family Dentistry, is to keep your teeth healthy for life! 

About Teeth

Teeth are very simple. The crown, or what is visible in the mouth, consists of an egg type makeup. The outside shell layer, enamel, is the hardest substance in the body. It is harder than bone with great compressive strength, but weak in it's tensile vigor. This means it can withstand the strong forces of your jaw muscles, but cannot flex if you bite side ways on a foreign object, or change from cold to hot quickly. Those conditions cause fractures to form (like glass). Everyone has fractures in their teeth, some larger and more noticeable. Enamel is more resistance to acid from dental plaque and your stomach than other structures. Once a small hole is made in the tooth, however, the disease can spread quickly into the dentin, decaying large areas of the tooth which can progress to the pulp. Fluoride, if given to children topically and systemically early enough, combines with the enamel matrix strengthening it's shield. In adults extra fluoride may be applied topically if caries or exposed roots are problems.