DENTIN

Lecture Outline

Histological features of Dentin:

➢ Primary Dentin

➢ Secondary Dentin

➢ Tertiary Dentin
Knowledge:
At the end of the session the students must be able to:
• Describe the histological features of dentin such as primary
(Mantle and circumpulpal dentin), secondary and tertiary
dentin
• Describe the incremental lines of Von Ebner, contour lines
of Owen and Neonatal lines
Skills:
• Apply the detailed knowledge in clinical dental practice for
making diagnosis and treatment plan
Primary Secondary Tertiary
Dentin Dentin Dentin
• The first-formed dentin
in the crown underlying
the dentino-enamel
junction.
• It is soft and thus provides cushioning effect to
the tooth
Thickness: 20 µm

Mineral Content: Less mineralized & undergo globular

mineralization

Fibers: Run perpendicular to the DEJ

Von Korff’s Fibers:
These are larger diameter Type III collagen fibers

Corkscrew shaped

Argyrophilic (Silver Staining)

Underlies the mantle dentin

Present around the pulp

Circumpulpal dentin is more mineralized than
mantle dentin
Collagen fibers are
smaller in diameter
(0.05µm) & are
more closely packed
Secondary dentin is a narrow rim of dentin that
borders the pulp and it represents the dentin
formed after root completion
• More deposition on roof
and
floor of PULP CHAMBER →
RESULTING in REDUCTION in
size and shape of pulp →
this change is called pulp
recession.
o Contain fewer tubules than primary dentin
o Dentinal tubules are regularly arranged so
secondary dentin is also called regular secondary
dentin
 Secondary
Dentin

Primary
Dentin

Tertiary
dentin

o There is a bend in the tubules at primary and

secondary dentin interface
Less regular tubular structure
but continuous with that of the
primary
dentin
• ratio of mineral to organic
Secondary Primary
content is similar to primary Dentin
Dentin
dentin.
Secondary dentin is not formed uniformly and appears
in greater amounts on the roof and floor of the coronal
pulp chamber, where it protects the pulp from exposure
in older teeth.
TYPES OF DENTIN
➢ TERTIARY DENTIN OR REACTIVE OR REPARATIVE DENTIN

PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF STIMULI

(CARIES, ATTRITION, DENTAL PROCEDURES)

By PREXISTING ODONTOBLAST AND

NEWLY FORMED ODONTOBLAST LIKE CELLS.

May have tubules- sparse in number and irregularly arranged

➢ Deposition is very rapid- odontoblasts become trapped in the
dentin and distorts the tubular pattern called osteodentin
➢ Reactionary dentin: Deposited by preexisting odontoblasts
➢ Reparative dentin: Formed by newly differentiated odontoblast-
like cells
TYPES OF DENTIN
Incremental lines in dentin are of two types:

✓ Incremental lines of Von Ebner

✓ Incremental lines of Owen

▪ These are fine striations in dentin running
perpendicular to the dentinal tubules
▪ These lines represent the daily rhythmic pattern of
dentin deposition

▪ The distance between lines varies from 4 to 8 µm in

the crown to much less in the root
▪ Some investigators are of
the opinion that the lines
are 20µm apart and they
represent a 5 day interval
in dentin formation.

▪ 2µm organic matrix of

dentin is deposited in a
12-hour cycle, so the
daily deposition is
approximately 4µm.

▪ Dentin is similarly
mineralized in a 12-hour
cycle.
Occasionally some of the incremental lines are
accentuated because of disturbances in the matrix and
mineralization process and are known as contour lines
of Owen
▪ Analysis with soft X-ray has shown these lines to
represent hypocalcified bands.
▪ Some investigators have shown that the contour
lines of Owen are due to the coincidence of
secondary curvatures.
▪ Neonatal lines
represent the dentin Prenatal
formed before birth and dentin

dentin formed after

birth
Pulp
Postnatal
Neonatal line dentin
▪ These lines are commonly found in deciduous teeth
and in first permanent molars

▪ The neonatal line may be a zone of hypocalcification.

Pattern of dentin formation
Coronal dentin (crown dentin)
• Begins at bell stage of tooth development
• In papillary tissue adjacent to the IEE where cuspal
development begins
• Spreads down the cusp slope as far as the cervical loop
of the enamel organ
In multicusped teeth:
• Dentin formation begins independently at the sites of
each future cusp tip
• again spreads down the flanks of the cusp slopes until
fusion with adjacent formative centers occurs.
Root dentin forms at a slightly later
stage of development.
• Requires the proliferation of hertwig’s
epithelial root sheath from the
cervical loop of enamel organ around
growing pulp to initiate the
differentiation of
root odontoblast
• Onset of root formation precedes the
onset of tooth eruption,
• By the time the tooth reaches its
functional position, about two
thirds of the root dentin will have been
formed.
Completion of root dentin formation occurs:

• 18 months after eruption in deciduous teeth

• 2 to 3 years after eruption in permanent teeth.

• During this period the tooth is said to have an open

apex
• Dentin formation continues throughout the life of the
tooth,
gradually reducing size of pulp