The tooth is composed of 4 layers, the enamel, dentin, cementum, and dental pulp.
What is enamel?
Enamel is the hardest compound in the entire body. It's the outside layer of the tooth, completely covers the dentin, and is actually transparent in color. That implies the color of our teeth is due to dentin and not enamel. Nevertheless, enamel is consisted of enamel rods which can hold stain quite quickly, including red wine, coffee, tea, and cigarettes.
What is enamel comprised of?
Enamel is consisted of 96% calcium hydroxyapatite and 4% natural http://bestendodontistnj.com/ material and water. Bone is made up of 50% hydroxyapatite and 50% natural product consisting of collagen, thus making enamel the hardest compound in the body.
If I chip or break enamel, will it repair on its own?

Enamel does not include any living cells. If cracked, it will not repair itself. However, dentin can repair itself if damaged.
What is hydroxyapatite?
Hydroxyapatite is a storage form of calcium in the body. 99% of calcium in bone is kept as hydroxyapatite. The chemical formula for hydroxyapatite is Ca5(PO4)3OH.
What is dentin?
Dentin makes up the bulk of the tooth. It completely surrounds the pulp, and is covered by enamel on the crown portion of the tooth, and by cementum on the root of the tooth. Dentin is usually yellow in color and eventually figures out the color of the tooth, being that enamel is transparent. Dentin is composed of dentinal tubules that communicate straight with the pulp. This implies that is germs reaches the dentin, typically some type of discomfort will be felt. Dentin is made up of 65-70% calcium hydroxyapatite, 20-25% organic material, and 10% water.
What is cementum?
Cementum covers dentin on the root surface of the tooth. Cementum links the tooth to the gum ligaments and is therefore rather responsible for securing the tooth in the bone. It is made up of 50% calcium hydroxyapatite and 50% organic material and water, the same consistency as bone.
What is pulp?
Pulp is the income of the tooth. Pulp materials nutrients, blood, and nerves to the tooth. This indicates that the pulp is accountable for keeping the dentin, dentin, and cementum strong.
Well what if my pulp is eliminated with a root canal?
When bacteria reaches the pulp, depending on how comprehensive, it's generally suggested to have the pulp got rid of. This is since the pulp communicates directly with the rest of the body, and if damaging germs exists in your pulp, and it quickly transfer to other locations of the body, including the brain!! Please see the post on root canal for additional information on this subject.
That means the color of our teeth is due to dentin and not enamel. Enamel is made up of enamel rods which can hold stain quite easily, consisting of red white wine, coffee, tea, and cigarettes.
It totally surrounds the pulp, and is covered by enamel on the crown part of the tooth, and by cementum on the root of the tooth. Dentin is generally yellow in color and ultimately identifies the color of the tooth, being that enamel is transparent. Cementum covers dentin on the root surface of the tooth.