Enamel: structure, composition, defects — amelogenesis imperfecta
Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Oral Histology · Dental (BDS)
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Study notes
A 9-year-old boy named Sam comes to the clinic. His teeth look very yellow, small, and have tiny pits on the surface. He says his teeth hurt when he drinks cold water. The dentist looks closely and sees that Sam's enamel is very thin and didn't form correctly. This is diagnosed as Amelogenesis Imperfecta (Hypoplastic type). The treatment steps are: 1. Clean the teeth gently. 2. Use a special glue (bonding agent) to cover the pits. 3. Place stainless steel crowns on the back teeth to help him chew. 4. Place tooth-colored 'composite' shells on front teeth so Sam can smile confidently. Outcome: Sam can now eat ice cream without pain, and his teeth are protected from breaking.
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- Tooth morphology: deciduous dentition, differences from permanent
- Tooth numbering systems: FDI, Universal, Palmer notation
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- Tooth development: bud, cap, bell stages; enamel and dentin formation
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