Parts of a tooth

Cross-section of tooth showing its parts: crown, enamel, dentin, root, pulp, and nerve and blood vessels, and the gums and bone around it

The crown is the part of the tooth that you can see above the gums. The root is the part of the tooth that is below the gums. The top layer of the crown is enamel. Below the enamel is dentin, which surrounds the pulp. Inside the pulp are the blood vessels and nerves of the tooth. Some teeth have only one or two roots, but molars can have four roots.

Current as of: May 4, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine

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