Category: 2. Children’s (Primary) teeth

The alveolar bone is the jaw bone that surrounds and supports the root of the tooth. It contains the tooth sockets within which the tooth roots are embedded.

The apical foramen is the tiny opening at the tip of each root. This is what blood vessels and nerves from surrounding outside tissue pass through to enter the tooth.

Accessory canals are smaller channels that branch off from the main root canal. They are usually found near the root end of the tooth (apex). They supply blood vessels and nerves to the pulp.

The periodontal ligament is comprised of bundles of connective tissue fibres. One end of each bundle is attached to the cementum covering the root of the tooth. The fibres on the other end anchor the tooth root to the jaw (alveolar) bone and act as shock absorbers, allowing the tooth to withstand the forces of…

The root canal (also called the pulp canal) is the open space inside the root where the pulp extends from the pulp chamber. Blood vessels and nerves from surrounding outside tissue enter the pulp through the root canal.

The cementum is a layer of hard tissue that covers the root of the tooth. It is roughly as hard as bone but considerably softer than enamel. The connective tissues attach to the periodontal ligament, and through this bind the roots of the tooth to the gums and jaw (alveolar) bone.

The pulp chamber is the innermost portion of the tooth. The pulp chamber holds the pulp, which is made up of soft tissue. It contains blood vessels to supply blood and nutrients to the tooth to keep it alive, and nerves to enable the tooth to sense temperature.

Dentine forms the major component of each tooth, and extends almost the entire length of the tooth. It is a living tissue, softer than enamel with a structure similar to bone. It is sensitive, and is protected by enamel on the crown portion and cementum on the roots. It is nourished by the pulp.

The gingiva is the pink soft tissue that we call our gums. It protects the jaw (alveolar) bone and roots of the teeth, and covers the neck of each tooth.

The crown of each tooth is covered with enamel, which protects the underlying dentine. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, even harder than bone. Enamel is the only tissue that has no living cells. Because it is not alive, it can’t repair itself from decay or damage.