DR. SAMIHA J.

SAMARA

- Substantia adamantia
- Ectodermal derivative
- Covers the entire
anatomical crown of
tooth
- Provides contour and
shape to the crown

- Hardest tissue in the

body
- Brittle
- Acellular
- Permeable
- Thickness (10
microns-2.5 mm)
- Color (yellowish
white-grayish white)
- translucent

- 96% inorganic material

(hydroxyapatite)
trace minerals (strontium,
magnesium, lead, fluoride)
- 4% organic material
water
amelogenins
enamelins

1.Enamel rods
2.Rod sheath
3.Interrod
substance

 May vary from 5-12m

in number
Has three parts: the
body or head, the
neck and the tail
Follows wavy course
from DEJ to surface of
enamel
In cross section may
appear as fish scale,
paddle shaped or
may have a keyhole
pattern

section2 teeth

1 teeth

Incisal/occlusal
vertical/oblique same
Middle
horizontal same
Cervical apical
horizontal

- Boundary of
enamel rod
and interrod
substance
- Less calcified
area
- Cements or holds
together the enamel rods

- Intertwining or
twisting of
enamel rods at
incisal or cuspal
region
- Aids in resisting
high masticatory
loads without
fracture

- Series of alternating
dark and light
bands in the enamel
- Due to change in
direction of the
enamel rods
- Dark bands
diazones
- Light bands
parazones

- Brownish bands that

illustrate the
incremental pattern of
laying down of enamel
- Comparable to growth
rings of the tree

- Line of boundary
of prenatal and
postnatal enamel
(in deciduous
teeth only)
- Accentuated
incremental
lines of Retzius
- Prominent in
cervical areas

- Thin, leaflike
structures that
extends from enamel
surface towards DEJ
and even towards
dentin
- Organic in nature and
hypomineralized

- Appear as tufts of
grass that project into
the enamel
- Narrow ribbonlike
structure
- Hypocalcified enamel
rods and
interprismatic
substances that
originates from DEJ to
at least 1/3 of the
enamel
- Less mineralized,
weakened planes

- 30 microns thick
- Present in all 1 teeth
and 70 % of 2 teeth
- No prism outlines
- More heavily
mineralized area than
underlying enamel

- External
manifestation of
incremental lines
of Retzius
- Wavelike
transverse grooves
- Present only in
postnatal enamel

- Concave and vary

in depth and shape
- May contribute to
adherence of
plaque material

- Narrow fissurelike
structures which are
actually outer edges of
the enamel lamellae

- Primary enamel
cuticle
- Nasmyths
membrane
- Delicate membrane
that covers the
entire crown of
newly erupted
tooth
- Derived from the
ameloblasts

- Membrana
preformativa
- Junction between
dentin and
enamel
- Scalloped or has a
pitted appearance
- Hypomineralized
zone

- Thickened end of
odontoblastic process
that crosses the DEJ and
is entrapped in the
enamel
- Pain receptors

- a.k.a. Enamel
droplets
- HERS that becomes
detached and
differentiate into
ameloblasts and
forms enamel in the
bifurcation or
trifurcation of teeth

1. Enamel is incapable of repair

and replacement.
2. Enamel undergoes attrition,
abrasion and erosion.
3. As the tooth ages there is loss of
rod ends and flattening of
perikymata.
4. Enamel becomes darker in color.
5. Enamel becomes less
permeable with advancing age.

1. The course or direction of enamel

rods is an important consideration
in cavity preparation.

2. Enamel is
brittle and
must be
supported by
sound dentin.

3. Presence of
deep pits and
fissures
predispose teeth
to dental caries.

4. Dental lamellae
and enamel tufts
are predisposing
location for
dental caries.

5. Enamel is permeable to
fluoride and other substances.

6. Keep the cervical surface of

enamel well polished and smooth.

7. The process of
etching produces
pitting and
irregularities that aids
in microretention of
the restoration.