Dental Enamel

Defective development of tooth enamel or dentin is a significant dental problem for children and adolescents in various respects, and dentists and other oral health workers find managing these problems challenging and stressful. While a considerable amount of relevant research is currently being undertaken, much further investigation is needed. This book discusses the known causes of defective dental enamel and explains why it is so difficult to restore. Most importantly, it presents the signs and symptoms that allow accurate diagnosis and documents the best contemporary management. The full range of enamel defects is considered, including defects in primary teeth and permanent teeth, associated syndromes, molar incisor hypomineralization, and genetic defects. The clinical chapters are well illustrated, providing clear guidelines for each procedure. In addition, avenues for future research are identified, with explanation of their rationale.

This account of enamel begins with the formation of enamel via epithelio-mesenchymal interactions, and continues through its emergence into the mouth and its final destruction by the most common disease in the western world, dental caries.

The molecular mechanisms and protein species associated with the mineralization of mature dental enamel are active areas of research. This book focuses on specific areas of research including the structural chemistry, protein biochemistry and genetics of enamel development.

"A misfit Camel with excellent dental hygiene shows his worth in a tale that covers a lot of ground." —School Library Journal Enamel wants to be like all the other camels who live in Camel-lot, but his front teeth are bigger than anyone else's. And they stick out. He's the only camel who brushes his teeth—he has to because everyone can see them. Enamel is tired of getting teased for being different. Then one day the class gets caught in a terrible sandstorm...and his exceptional incisors save the day. Enamel the Camel is an upbeat, humorous story about sticking out, stepping up, and the importance of good dental hygiene.

Enamel, the shiny material covering the teeth of vertebrates is the hardest tissue the vertebrate body can produce and one of the most impressive products of biomineralization. This hard tissue is closely related to feeding, the first part in the energy intake process so basic to vertebrate life. Enamel has a complex internal microstructure full of phylogenetic and biomechanic information. Topics covered: Ontogeny; Crystallite level; Prism level; Enamel type level; Schmelzmuster level; Dentition level; Evolution; Biomechanical level; Glossary.

"Tooth Enamel: Frontiers in Mineral Chemistry and Biochemistry, Integrative Cell Biology and Genetics" incorporates the proceedings of the 9th International Enamel Symposium (Enamel 9) hosted in the UK and chaired by Professor Jennifer Kirkham and Professor Ariane Berdal. The topic covers cellular and molecular aspects of the development, pathology, evolution and repair or regeneration of dental enamel. The original research papers and reviews will be of interest to all enamel and biomineralization researchers. Clinicians will find up-to-date thinking and opinion on the aetiology of enamel pathologies and their potential future treatment via novel strategies for preventing, repairing and regenerating enamel.

The Research Topic will host an overview of the most recent knowledge on enamel issued from a group of international experts who gathered at the 10th International Symposium on Dental Enamel (Enamel X). The Topic will include manuscripts describing original data, short communication, and reviews. In addition, the Topic will host abstracts and panel discussions presented at the Enamel X meeting, to highlight changing paradigms, unsolved and challenging questions, as well as translational challenges. Bringing together physics, chemistry, biochemistry and development and differentiation, contributions to this Topic will focus on the unique architecture of enamel, from nano- to macro- scale, and the dynamic molecular interactions with lead to extracellular self-assembly and mineralization. This knowledge will open a window into innovative bioinspired treatment and materials for tissue repair and regeneration. Tissue-specific networks and pathways shared with a number of biological systems (clock genes, epithelial polarization/ion handling, cell niche dynamics, and cell signaling) will also be explored. This will give an overall picture of the multiple acellular, cellular and organismal (essentially transgenic mice) processes actively investigated in the enamel field. Similarly, lessons from isolated or syndromic, inherited and acquired enamel defects obtained using cutting edge cell and matrix-omics will establish the emerging genomic framework determining enamel quality. Tooth enamel defects reflect historical and present gene-environment interactions in the animal and human condition such as climate, nutrition, pollutants or fluoride exposures. This last fact is highly relevant in medicine and public health since poor tooth quality and mineral defects are one of the first human worldwide pathologies.