Dentin is the middle layer of a tooth. It is made of hard minerals and protects the pulp (the inner core of the tooth) from external conditions such as heat and cold.
Dentin is covered by enamel above the gumline (the crown of the tooth); dentin in the root of the tooth is covered by hard connective tissue called cementum.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise