Dentinum

Dentin is a mineralized connective tissue similar to bone. It is the basis of the entire tooth - i.e. the crown, neck and root. Originating from the mesenchyme. It is not vascularized and contains no cells with the exception of odontoblasts, which are located at the dentin-pulp interface. However, due to the higher degree of mineralization, it is slightly harder. The basic mass consists of type I collagen fibrils, glycosaminoglycans and calcium salts such as hydroxyapatite. The basic morphological feature of dentin is dentinal tubules arranged in parallel across the entire thickness of dentin.

Components
Dentin consists of a cellular component and an extracellular matrix.

Cellular component
Dentin cells are so-called odontoblasts. Odontoblasts are specialized cells unable to divide or renew themselves. They produce predentin = unmineralized matrix: collagen fibrils (->fibers in dentin) + amorphous mass. Predentin gradually mineralizes with the produced hydroxyapatite. In the area of ​​occlusion or incision, the odontoblasts are tall and flatten in the apical direction. Odnotoblasts consist of a body and a process. The body of the odontoblast is richly equipped with endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, ribosomes and mitochondria. An excess amount of these organelles contains dentin due to the formation of ECM.

One long, slender, branched odontoblastic process/Tomes fibre/apical process. extends from the odontoblast towards the dentin. Tomes fibers run through the dentin to the dentino-enamel/dentino-cementum boundary in the so-called dentinal tubules together with the tubular fluid. Both the processes and the fluid ensure the perception of pain in the dentin and the metabolism.

Tomes' fibre
Tomes' fiber is a long process from the apical pole of the odontoblast. It contains microtubules, microfilaments, mitochondria, microvesicles and, conversely, lacks ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum. At the junction between enamel and dentin, it branches into several terminal branches that can extend into the enamel. These fibers run in canals- canaliculi dentis.

Extracelular matrix
The extracellular matrix contains a fibrous (fibrillar) and amorphous component. The fibrous component je zastoupena v podobě kolagenu I. The amorphous component consists of organic and inorganic compounds. Inorganic compounds are mainly represented by hydroxyapatite and other minerals that are present in enamel, but to a lesser extent. Hydroxapatite crystals reach smaller dimensions than in the case of enamel, namely 20 nm in length and 3.5 nm in width (??). The crystals are not oriented and can be stacked with different densities depending on the type of dentin.

Next, the inorganic components are replaced with water.

Structure
Dentin is a calcified fibrous connective tissue. It is penetrated by so-called dentinal tubules. The cross-section of the tubules is circular. Their course is ace-shaped in the crown part and straight in the root part. The width of the tubules on the pulpal side reaches 4–5 μm and occupies up to 80% of the pulpal surface. In the area of ​​the denite-enamel border, the tubules have a width of approx. 1μm. As a result of the diverging course of the tubules and the smaller cross-section in the area of ​​the dentino-vitreous border, the tubules occupy a significantly smaller part of the area at the dentino-vitreous border than on the pulpal side. The tubules are filled with projections of odontoblasts - Tommes fibers. The protrusions are surrounded by intertubular fluid, the movement of which, according to Bronstrem's theory (??), causes pain. During their course, the projections anastomose with neighboring projections. The wall of the tubule is separated from the protrusion of the odontoblast and the intratubular fluid by the so-called membrana limitans. A nerve fiber may run between the membrana limitans and the wall of the tubule. Nerve fibers enter only 20% of the dentinal tubules. A vessel never passes through the dentinal tubule. Peritubular dentin surrounds the dentinal tubules. This type of dentin is homogeneous and the most mineralized of all types. Intertubular dentin is found between the tubules. It is less mineralized and about 50% is made up of collagen fibers. Intratubular dentin(sclerotic dentin) is the mineralized content of the dentine tubule as a result of a pathological process. It is caused by external noxious effects - chronic caries (in the case of acute caries, there is no time for its development)(?), abrasion, unsparing preparation. As a result of external noxia, degeneration of odontoblasts and deposition of calcium compounds occurs. This dentin is more transparent due to sclerotization.

Predentin
Predentin is newly formed and not yet mineralized dentin. It contains phosphate and calcium granules, which gradually give rise to crystallization centers. It consists of collagen fibers and non-calcified ECM. It reaches a width of 5–20 μm.

Circumpulpal dentin
Circumpulpal dentin is otherwise called von Ebner's. Collagen fibers run obliquely to perpendicular to the course of the tubules. The mineralization has a globular character. In this part of the dentin, the dentinal tubules do not branch.

Interglobular dentin
It is a narrow line of less mineralized dentin at the interface of circumpulpal and mantle dentin. Mineralization of the globular zones did not take place during development.

Mantle dentin
The collagen fibers contained in this layer of dentin are called Korff's fibers. They run ace-shaped and almost parallel to the dentinal tubules. This layer of dentin is characterized by variable mineralization, because mineralization occurs here discontinuously - odnotoblasts create vesicles that bind calcium and phosphorus. For this reason, we can observe the following lines on the mantle dentin:

The mantle dentin reaches a width of 80-100 μm
 * Ebner's lines – hypomineralized sections running perpendicular to the course of the dentinal tubules. They arise physiologically.
 * Owen's lines – hypomineralized sections of a larger scale, arising pathologically as a result of childhood diseases.
 * Neonatal line – hypomineralized line (??) separating the temporary tooth prenatally and postnatally forming dentin.

Primary
It is formed until the development of the external shape of the tooth is completed - a physiological process.

Secondary
It is formed after the end of tooth development throughout life - a physiological process. During life, it leads to a reduction of the medullary cavity.

Tertiary
It is formed as a result of external noxious action - a pathological process.

Types of dentin
The dentin canals do not point directly to the dentino-vitreous border, but in an ace shape, in such a way that the first convexity always points towards the apex of the root. Collagen fibers form a network around these dentinal tubules.


 * Peritubular dentin is more mineralized than intertubular dentin . Rhe interface between them is Neumann's sheath, which looks like a membrane on stained histological slides.
 * Circumpulpal dentin is otherwise called von Ebner's. It is formed by light collagen fibers, that cross the dentinal tubules at right angles. In this part of the dentin, the dentinal tubules do not branch.
 * The mantle dentin is otherwise called von Korff's. It consists of coarse collagen fibers that are arranged radially. In this part of the dentin, the dentinal tubules branch.

Related articles

 * Cementum
 * Enamelum
 * Teeth
 * Hard dental tissues
 * Chemical and physical properties of dentin