The structure of the tooth includes dentine, enamel, pulp, blood vessels and nerves and other tissues embedded in the bony jaw. Your teeth are suspended in mid-air.

 

It is attached to your body by only a collar of one millimeter of bone close to the top of the tooth. The rest of the tooth is connected by ligaments called the periodontal membrane.

 

Teeth have two nerve supplies:

 

• One to the centre of the tooth. The purpose of this nerve is to tell you that you have tooth decay.
• And the second nerve which is found in the periodontal membrane. The purpose of this nerve is to tell you how hard you are biting.

 

The normal depth of this pocket is between one and three millimeters. It stretches all around the tooth like a collar.

 

This is important to understand how to apply correct brushing techniques (see oral hygiene)