Figure 6-2. Anatomy of the oral complex.
a. Teeth.
(1) A tooth (figure 6-3) has two main parts--the crown and the root. A root
canal passes up through the central part of the tooth. The root is suspended within a
socket (called the alveolus) of one of the jaws of the mouth. The crown extends up
above the surface of the jaw. The root and inner part of the crown are made of a
substance called dentin. The outer portion of the crown is covered with a substance
known as enamel. Enamel is the hardest substance of the human body. The nerves
and blood vessels of the tooth pass up into the root canal from the jaw substance.
Figure 6-3. Section of a tooth and jaw.
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