Enamel is protective mineralized tissue that covers the crown of a tooth. It is the outer covering of a tooth and hardest tissue in a person’s body. As is said in the AAE Glossary of Endodontic Terms, “enamel provides a resistant covering suitable for mastication. Its composition is approximately 96 percent inorganic and 4 percent organic substance and water.”
Enamel is one of the four major components that makes up the structure of each tooth in the mouth. Along with dentin, cementum, and pulp, enamel plays a vital role in the health of each tooth. Every tooth is covered in a layer of hard enamel.
Checking for Healthy Enamel
The enamel is the protective covering that is visible on the crown of the tooth and stretches down to the gum line. When a dentist looks inside a patient’s mouth, he or she ideally wants to see nothing but tooth enamel. Inside a healthy mouth with healthy gums, only clean, hard, and crack-free tooth enamel should be visible. No cementum should be visible. Cementum is the calcified covering that protects the root portion of the tooth.
Root Canal Treatment
A root canal is a localized bacterial infection that leads to the progressive disintegration of the affected tooth. Usually, a root canal starts with the dissolution of the enamel, which allows bacteria to invade the tooth. The root canal treatment is a simple solution that can stop the destruction of the natural teeth and prevent the need for bridges or dental implants.
We provide root canal therapy in Houston and more. Are you concerned about your enamel health? We can help you at Gulf Coast Endodontics. Contact us today for more information regarding our dental services.