Dentin surface

The dentin surface is the outermost boundary of dentin tissue in teeth, immediately beneath enamel in the crown and cementum in the root. Dentin consists mainly of hydroxyapatite (a calcium phosphate mineral), type I collagen, and other non-collagenous proteins such as phosphophoryn and dentin matrix protein 1. The tissue is permeated by microscopic dentinal tubules containing cell processes from odontoblasts and dentinal fluid, which play a key role in transmitting sensory signals and contributing to tooth vitality. Exposure of the dentin surface commonly occurs due to enamel wear, gum recession, or caries, leading to clinical conditions such as dentin hypersensitivity and increased risk for dental decay. As an anatomical structure, "dentin surface" is not a recognized therapeutic target, molecule, receptor, enzyme, or transporter. "Dentin surface" does not refer to a well-defined protein, gene, receptor, or molecular entity. It is an anatomical term and thus does not meet the criteria for a canonical drug target or molecular biomarker. The term should be used only in anatomical contexts, not therapeutic target databases.

Other names

Dentin external layerOuter dentinTooth dentin surface

Not applicable; but agents may occlude dentinal tubules, remineralize dentin, or reduce hypersensitivity if applied to exposed dentin.