Dentin is formed by cells called

odontoblasts that differentiate from

ectomesyncymal cells of dental papilla
following an organizing influence that
emanates from the inner dental epithelium.

Thus dental papilla is the formative organ

of dentin and eventually becomes the pulp
of tooth, a change in terminology generally
associated with the moment dentin
formation begins.
Life cycle
Dentin is a hard yellowish substance. It is
about 70% inorganic hydroxy apatite crystals;
the remaining 30 % is primarily organic
composed of collagen and mucopolysaccride
ground substance, as well as water.

Dentin forms the bulk and general form of

tooth and is characterized as a hard tissue
with tubules throughout its thickness. Since it
begins to form slightly before the enamel, it
determines the shape of crown, including the
cusp, ridges and number, size of root.
Dentin structure
Physically and chemically the dentin closely
resembles bone. The main morphologic
difference between bone and dentin is that
some of the osteoblast exists on the surface of
bone, and one of these cells when enclosed
within this matrix called the osteocites.

 
The odotoblast cell bodies remain external to
dentin but their processes exist within tubules
in dentin. It is somewhat harder than bone but
softer than enamel. Dentin is somewhat harder
in its central part than near the pulp or in its
periphery.
Dentin in cross section is composed of the
following distinct areas microscopically.

Dentinal tubule

Long tube
Running from DEJ or DCJ to the pulp
Filled with a cellular extension of
odontoblastic process
Cytoplasmic extension of odontoblasts
Processes are larger in diameter near the
pulp(3-4 micro meter) and taper to one
micrometer further into the dentin
DENTINAL TUBULES AND ODONTOBLASTS
 Peritubular dentin

An area of higher crystalline content

Immediately surrounds dentinal tubules
Forms the walls of tubules in all but the dentin
near the pulp
According to several investigators calcified
tubule wall has an inner organic lining termed
lamina limitans.
These inner organic lining is described as a
thin organic lining high in GAG
Peritubular dentin
 Intertubular dentin

Bulk of the dentin material

Located between dentinal tubules or more
specifically between the zones of Peritubular
dentine
One half of its volume is organic matrix
(collagen fibers)
The ground substance consists of non
collaginous proteins proper to calcified tissues
and some plasma proteins.
Intertubular Dentin
 Odontoblastic process

Cytoplasmic extensions of odontoblastic

processes
Similar to osteocyte processes running
canalicules than traverse the dentin layer and are
referred as dentinal tubules.
They follow an S shaped path from the outer
surface of dentin to the perimeter of pulp in
coronal dentine.
They branch to the extent that dentin is
permeated by a profuse anasthamosing canicular
system.
Odontoblastic process
 Granular layer of Tomes

Caused by a coalescing and looping of

terminal portion of dentinal tubules
Development probably similar to branching
and beveling of tubules at DEJ
Recent interpretations relates this layer to a
special arrangement of collagen and non
collaginous matrix proteins at the interface
between dentin and cementum
Granular layer of Tomes
 Primary dentin

Mantle dentin - First formed dentin in the crown

underling the DEJ
Thus it’s the more outer or peripheral part of
primary dentin and is about 20 micro meter thick
Fibrils formed in this zone are perpendicular to DEJ
Circumpulpal dentin – the primary dentin or
bulk of tooth
Represents all of the dentin formed before root
completion
Slightly contain more mineral than mantle dentine
 Secondary dentin

Narrow bent of dentin bordering the pulp

Represent the dentin formed after root
completion
Contains fewer tubules than dentine
Considered as it protects pulp from
exposture in older teeth
 Tertiary dentin

Also called repertory, response or reactive

dentine
Localized formation of dentine on the pulp
dentin border formed in reaction of trauma
such as caries or restorative procedure
Rate of deposition depends on the degree
of injury.
 Abnormalities of dentin formation

Interglobular dentin

Seen when mineralization of dentin begins in

small globular areas that fail to coalesce into
a homogenous mass.
Resulted as zones of hyperminerilization
called globular dentin or interglobular spaces
Dentin gets entrapped
Found next to DEJ in crown and DCJ in root
The root interglobular dentin is granular layer
of tomes
 Dead tracks
Empty dentinal tubules due to death of
odontoblastic cells
Empty tubule give rise to pathway for bacteria in
decay
More rapid penetration of decay once it had
reached the DEJ
They appear black in transmitted and white in
reflected light
Their degeneration is often observed in the area
of narrow pulpal horns because of crowding of
odontoblasts
Where reparative dentine seals dentinal tubules
fill with fluid or gaseous substances and may
entrap air as per their above
 Sclerotic dentin
(transparent dentin)

When dentinal tubules filled with dentin

material
Cause due to occlusal trauma and trauma
In the area of trauma the odontoblastic
processes retract and begin secreting matrix
substances
Odontoblast degenerate and the tubules of
degenerated odontoblasts are filled
Stimulate may not only induce additional
formation of reparative dentin but also lead to
protective changes in existing dentin
 Seen in cases of caries attrition abrasion
erosion or cavity preparation, sufficient stimuli
are generated leading to the appearance of
collagen fibers and appetite crystals in the
dentinal tubules
Seen mostly in older individuals
Considered as a defensive mechanism of dentin
It appears very much like the Peritubular dentin
when the tubule becomes filled with fine
meshwork of crystals and gradually obliterated
with minerals.
Thank
You