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

Derived 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

An angler named Tom Dentin caught the Louisiana state-record swordfish, a 310-pounder, in July 1980.

From Time Magazine Archive

Dentine, Dentin, den′tin, n. the substance of which the tooth is formed, under the enamel.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various