19/05/2025
Teeth are unique in the human body because, unlike most tissues, they cannot heal themselves once damaged. This limitation is primarily due to the structure and composition of tooth enamel and dentin.
• Enamel is Acellular and Avascular
🦷 Tooth enamel, the outermost layer, is composed of approximately 96% mineral content and lacks living cells and blood vessels.
🧬 During development, enamel is formed by specialized cells called ameloblasts.
⚠️ Once enamel formation is complete, ameloblasts undergo programmed cell death and are no longer present.
➡️ As a result, mature enamel lacks the cellular machinery necessary for self-repair.
• Limited Regenerative Capacity of Dentin
🪵 Beneath the enamel lies dentin, which contains living cells called odontoblasts.
🔄 Odontoblasts can produce secondary dentin in response to minor stimuli.
⏳ However, this process is slow and insufficient to repair significant damage.
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