Dentin cannot fully grow back once it’s lost, but it can be protected and partly repaired. Because dentin is a living tissue, it reacts to damage in limited ways and can strengthen itself with help from dental treatments.
When dentin is irritated by decay, wear, or heat, the tooth can form a thin protective layer called tertiary dentin. It helps seal the pulp but doesn’t completely replace the lost structure.
Early damage can be treated with fluoride, calcium-based gels, or desensitizing toothpaste. These help minerals re-enter the surface and reduce sensitivity.
If the dentin is decayed or exposed, dentists restore it using fillings, sealants, or crowns. These materials protect the pulp and replace the lost structure.
In short: dentin cannot regenerate completely, but it can be preserved, protected, and reinforced to keep the tooth healthy.
Dentin, also called dentine, is the hard tissue that forms the main bulk of every tooth.
It lies beneath the enamel in the crown and beneath the cementum in the root.
Dentin surrounds the soft dental pulp and plays a vital role in protecting it from heat, cold, and bacteria.
Although it is not as hard as enamel, dentin is tougher and more elastic, allowing the tooth to absorb pressure without breaking.
Dentin is a mineralized tissue made up of:
This combination gives dentin its yellowish color and flexible strength.
Because enamel is translucent, the shade of the underlying dentin largely determines the overall color of a tooth.
Dentin contains thousands of microscopic channels called dentinal tubules that run from the pulp chamber to the outer surface of the tooth.
These tubules carry fluid and tiny extensions of cells called odontoblasts.
They are responsible for tooth sensitivity and the transmission of sensations such as heat, cold, or touch.
Between the tubules is intertubular dentin, which forms the main structure of the tissue, and around each tubule is peritubular dentin, which is more highly mineralized.
Closer to the pulp lies a thin layer of soft, unmineralized tissue called predentin, which later hardens into mature dentin.
Dentin is produced by specialized cells called odontoblasts that line the edge of the pulp.
They secrete the organic matrix and control its mineralization.
As odontoblasts work, they retreat inward toward the pulp, leaving behind their processes inside the dentinal tubules.
There are three main types of dentin, depending on when and why it forms:
Dentin performs several important roles in the tooth:
Dentin can vary depending on location or condition:
When enamel is worn away or gums recede, dentin can become exposed.
The open tubules allow hot, cold, or sweet substances to trigger fluid movement that irritates the nerve endings in the pulp.
This causes sharp, short-lasting pain known as dentin hypersensitivity.
To reduce sensitivity, dentists may apply special fluoride varnishes, desensitizing toothpaste, or sealants that block the tubules and protect the nerve endings.
When decay breaches the enamel and reaches the dentin, it spreads much faster because dentin is less mineralized and contains organic matter.
Bacteria and acids can travel through the tubules toward the pulp, leading to inflammation and possibly infection.
If decay is caught early, the dentist can remove the softened dentin and place a filling.
If it reaches the pulp, root canal treatment may be needed.
With age, dentin continues to grow slowly.
The pulp chamber becomes smaller, and the tubules may close with mineral deposits, a process called dentinal sclerosis.
Older dentin tends to be darker, less permeable, and less sensitive than young dentin.
1. Is dentin alive?
Dentin itself does not have blood vessels, but it is considered a living tissue because it contains the extensions of living cells (odontoblasts) from the pulp.
2. Can dentin repair itself?
Yes, to some extent. When irritated, odontoblasts can produce tertiary dentin to protect the pulp.
However, large cavities or loss of tissue still require dental treatment.
3. Why does exposed dentin hurt?
Because the tubules inside dentin allow temperature or pressure changes to move the fluid inside them, which stimulates the nerves in the pulp, causing pain.
4. How can I protect my dentin?
Use a soft toothbrush, avoid aggressive brushing, limit acidic foods and drinks, maintain good oral hygiene, and visit your dentist regularly.
Using fluoride toothpaste or desensitizing toothpaste helps strengthen and protect dentin.
5. Can dentin be whitened?
Tooth whitening mainly affects the enamel.
Dentin can be brightened slightly through whitening that penetrates the enamel, but deep discoloration of dentin (for example, after trauma) may need professional bleaching or veneers.
Dentin is a living, mineralized tissue that forms the foundation of every tooth.
It supports enamel, protects the pulp, and allows you to feel temperature and pressure.
When dentin is exposed, teeth become sensitive, so keeping enamel intact and gums healthy is the best way to protect it.
Understanding dentin helps explain why regular dental care, gentle brushing, and professional check-ups are essential for strong, healthy teeth throughout life.
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