Tooth Anatomy
This illustration shows the anatomy of a tooth and gums as well as the supporting structures that surround a tooth.
Glossary of Terms:
- Blood vessels
- carry nutrients to the tooth.
- Bone
- alveolar bone forms the tooth socket and provides it with support.
- Cementum
- the layer of hard bone-like tissue covering the root of the tooth.
- Cemento-enamel junction
- the line where the enamel and cementum meet.
- Dentin
- the hard yellow tissue underlying the enamel and cementum, making up the main bulk of the tooth.
- Enamel
- the hard, white outer layer of the tooth.
- Gingiva
- the gum tissue surrounding the tooth.
- Ligament
- the connective tissue that surrounds the tooth and connects it to bone.
- Nerves
- relay signals such as pain to and from your brain.
- Pulp
- located in the center of the tooth, it contains the arteries, veins and nerves.
- Root canal
- canal in the root of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels travel through.