Читать книгу Basic Guide to Oral Health Education and Promotion - Alison Chapman - Страница 33

Enamel is:

 The hardest substance in the human body.

 Brittle – it fractures when the underlying dentine is weakened by decay (caries).

 Insensitive to stimuli (e.g. hot, cold, and sweet substances).

 Darkens slightly with age – as secondary dentine is laid down and stains from proteins in the diet, tannin‐rich food and drinks, and smoking are absorbed.

Enamel is also subject to three types of wear and tear (see Chapter 6). The educator

needs to be aware of these and able to differentiate between them:

1 Erosion – usually seen on palatal and lingual (next to palate and tongue) surfaces.

2 Abrasion – usually seen on cervical (outer neck of tooth) surfaces.

3 Attrition – natural wear often seen on occlusal (biting) surfaces.