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Q: What are the various parts of a tooth?
A: Every tooth has two distinct regions: the crown, which is the part of the tooth that is above the gum line, and the root, which is the part that is in the gum and connects the tooth to the jaw. Beyond that, each tooth contains numerous components. For instance, the crown is encased in enamel, which is the hardest substance in the body. Although it is hard, unlike other parts of the body, enamel cannot repair itself once it has been damaged. That damage generally comes from tooth decay, which begins when acids created by bacteria in the mouth begin to erode the enamel.
Beneath the enamel, and protected by it, is dentin, a substance that is hard, but flexible enough to let us chew hard foods. The root is surrounded by cementum, a bonelike substance that protects the root and connects with the tissue that holds the tooth in place. At the heart of the tooth is the pulp, which holds blood vessels and the nerves that sense heat, cold, pressure and pain. The pulp provides nutrients to the dentin, which, unlike enamel can reproduce itself as long as the pulp is healthy. For any other questions about the structure of your teeth, talk with your dentist.
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