Main Entry: den·tin

Pronunciation: \ˈdent-^ən\

Variant(s): or den·tine \ˈden-ˌtēn, den-ˈtēn\

Function: noun

: a calcareous material similar to bone but harder and denser that composes the principal mass of a tooth, is formed by the odontoblasts of the surface of the dental papilla, and consists of a matrix containing minute parallel tubules which open into the pulp cavity and during life contain processes of the cells of the pulp—compare cementum, enamel

[dentin illustration]

—den·tin·al \ˈdent-^ən-əl; ˈden-ˌtēn-^əl, den-ˈ\ adjective