dentin

American  

[den-tn, -tin] / ˈdɛn tn, -tɪn /

Also dentine

noun

Dentistry.

1. the hard, calcareous tissue, similar to but denser than bone, that forms the major portion of a tooth, surrounds the pulp cavity, and is situated beneath the enamel and cementum.

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dentin Scientific  

/ dĕn′tĭn /

1. The main bony part of a tooth beneath the enamel, surrounding the pulp chamber and root canals.

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dentin Cultural  

1. The hard, bony material beneath the enamel of a tooth. The bulk of a tooth is made up of dentin.

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Other Word Forms

• dentinal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dentin

First recorded in 1830–40; dent- + -in ²

Explanation

Dentin is a bone-like substance inside your teeth, just under the enamel. Though it's harder than bone, dentin is more porous and flexible than enamel. The dentin in your teeth is protected by the brittle, white enamel, but in return it provides structure to the outer surface of your teeth. While dentin is vulnerable to decay and sensitive to cold, it can also sometimes repair itself. Your teeth are mostly made up of dentin, and fittingly, the word comes from the Latin dens, "tooth."

Example Sentences

The researchers also found that the powder helped restore damaged enamel and dentin.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

“That’s the tissue that I think is arguably structurally more important to a Tyrannosaur because if the dentin shatters, then they’ll be eating bananas,” Dr. Carr said.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2023

The proteins came from collagen, a component of connective tissue in body parts including dentin, a part of teeth.

From Reuters • May 1, 2019

Paleoanthropologists can examine teeth to estimate how old a hominid was when it died, based on which teeth are erupted, how worn down they are, and the amount of a tissue called dentin.

From Slate • Sep. 9, 2013

Nature will not restore the lost part, but will do the next best thing—solidify the dentin.

From Tin Foil and Its Combinations for Filling Teeth by Ambler, Henry Lovejoy