Most of a tooth’s structure, the root, cannot be seen as it is hidden below the gum line. The area that can be seen is called the crown. Teeth are made up of the following elements:

Enamel – this is a hard calcium layer which forms the outer part of the tooth. It is the strongest substance in the body.

Dentine – this is a hard substance, although not as strong as enamel, that makes up most of the tooth and protects the pulp.

Pulp – this contains the blood and nerve supply which helps the tooth to stay healthy and alive.

Cementum – this protects the roots and fibres of the tooth and connects it to the gum.

Below is a diagram of how a tooth is structured.