enamel

enamel
The hard glistening substance covering the exposed portion of the tooth. In its mature form, it is composed of an inorganic portion made up of 90% hydroxyapatite and 6-8% calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, and magnesium carbonate, the remainder comprising an organic matrix of protein and glycoprotein; structurally, it is made up of oriented rods each of which consists of a stack of rodlets encased in an organic prism sheath. SYN: enamelum [TA], substantia adamantina, substantia vitrea. [M.E., fr. Fr. enamailer, to apply e., fr. en, on, + amail, e., fr. Germanic]
- dwarfed e. SYN: nanoid e..
- interrod e. e. occupying the space between e. rods and serving to bind them together.
- mottled e. alterations in e. structure due to excessive fluoride ingestion during tooth formation; varies in appearance from small white opacities to yellow and black spotting.
- nanoid e. a condition of abnormal thinness of the e.. SYN: dwarfed e..
- whorled e. e. in which the rods assume a spiral or twisting course.

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enam·el in-'am-əl n the intensely hard calcareous substance that forms a thin layer partly covering the teeth of many vertebrates including humans, is the hardest substance of the animal body, and consists of minute prisms secreted by ameloblasts, arranged at right angles to the surface, and bound together by a cement substance compare CEMENTUM, DENTIN

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n.
the extremely hard outer covering of the crown of a tooth. It is formed before tooth eruption by ameloblast and consists of crystalline hydroxyapatite.

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enam·el (ə-namґəl) [O.F. esmail] 1. the glazed surface of baked porcelain, metal, or pottery. 2. any hard, smooth, glossy coating. 3. dental e.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Enamel — may refer to * Tooth enamel, the hard mineralized surface of teeth; * Vitreous enamel, a smooth, durable coating made of melted and fused glass powder; * Enamel paint, a paint that dries to an especially hard glossy finish, resembling vitreous… …   Wikipedia

  • Enamel — En*am el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Enameled}or {Enamelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Enameling} or {Enamelling}.] 1. To lay enamel upon; to decorate with enamel whether inlaid or painted. [1913 Webster] 2. To variegate with colors as if with enamel. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enamel — [e nam′əl, inam′əl] n. [ME < the v.] 1. a glassy, colored, opaque substance fused to surfaces of metals, glass, and pottery as an ornamental or protective coating 2. any smooth, hard, glossy coating or surface like enamel 3. the hard, white,… …   English World dictionary

  • Enamel — En*am el, n. [Pref. en + amel. See {Amel}, {Smelt}, v. t.] 1. A variety of glass, used in ornament, to cover a surface, as of metal or pottery, and admitting of after decoration in color, or used itself for inlaying or application in varied… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enamel — (v.) early 14c., from Anglo Fr. enamailler (early 14c.), from en in (see EN (Cf. en ) (1)) + amailler to enamel, variant of O.Fr. esmailler, from esmal enamel, from Frank. *smalt, from P.Gmc. *smaltjan to smelt (see SMELT …   Etymology dictionary

  • enamel — ► NOUN 1) a coloured opaque glassy substance applied to metal, glass, or pottery for decorative or protective purposes. 2) the hard glossy substance that covers the crown of a tooth. 3) a paint that dries to give a smooth, hard coat. ► VERB… …   English terms dictionary

  • Enamel — En*am el, a. Relating to the art of enameling; as, enamel painting. Tomlinson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Enamel — En*am el, v. i. To practice the art of enameling. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enamel — has the forms enamelled, enamelling in BrE and enameled, enameling in AmE …   Modern English usage

  • enamel — [n] paint, often shiny cloisonné, coating, finish, glaze, gloss, japan, lacquer, polish, stain, topcoat, varnish, veneer; concepts 259,260,467 …   New thesaurus

  • enamel — enameler; esp. Brit., enameller, n. enamelist; esp. Brit., enamellist, n. enamelwork, n. /i nam euhl/, n., v., enameled, enameling or (esp. Brit.) enamelled, enamelling. n …   Universalium

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