Introduction
Every tooth of the human dentition is basically the same. No matter whether it is an incisor, canine or molar, each tooth consists of a crown, which looks out from the gum and is visible, and a root, which anchors the tooth in the gum. Between the crown and the root lies the neck of the tooth. In this area the tooth is narrower than at the crown and the root.
Anatomy of the cervix
As described in the introduction, the neck of the tooth is a component of a tooth, along with the crown and the root. The neck of the tooth is usually completely surrounded by gums (gingiva) and anchored there. This is why the neck of the tooth is normally not or hardly visible.
The gums form a natural gum pocket in the area of the neck of the tooth, as they are grown together with the skin of the root. This pocket is normally about 2 mm deep. In contrast to the crown of a tooth, which is surrounded by a relatively thick layer of enamel, the neck of the tooth is only surrounded by a very thin layer of dental cement, or even not at all.
The dentin underneath is exposed or only very slightly protected. In the dentin, the nerve fibers that conduct information to and from the teeth run in small channels. This includes information about temperature, pressure and also pain.
Function of the tooth neck
The neck of the tooth describes the transition from the crown to the root. The enamel of the crown runs out at the neck of the tooth towards the root cement. In healthy conditions, the neck of the tooth is firmly enclosed by a cuff formed by the gum.
The neck of the tooth is no longer covered by a protective layer of enamel. This means that in the area of the neck of the tooth, the dentine normally located under the enamel in the area of the crown of the tooth is exposed. The dentine is interspersed with many small tubules that extend to the pulp of the tooth.
For this reason the dentin is very sensitive to chemical, thermal or mechanical stimuli. Under normal circumstances, a gum cuff covers the neck of the tooth and ensures that the dentin is protected from external irritations. In case of gingival recession in the area of the cervix, which can occur for various reasons, the dentin is particularly sensitive and susceptible to the development of caries. This topic may also be of interest to you: periodontal apparatus
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