page_title: Enamel tufts
hierarchical_section_title: Enamel tufts
caption_attribution_description: Histologic cross-section of a tooth showing the enamel and dentin, with enamel lamellae and enamel tufts visible. Source: Photo taken by user:dozenist.
context_page_description: Enamel tufts are hypomineralized ribbon-like structures that run longitudinally to the tooth axis and extend from the dentinoenamel junction one fifth to a third into the enamel. They are called ‘‘tufts’’ due to their wavy look within the enamel microstructure.
  Biomechanically, enamel tufts are ‘‘closed cracks’’ or defects which, in their manner of propagating, act to prevent enamel fractures. This aspect of them is being studied to see how to make more fracture-resistant materials. However, they can also form without stress during enamel development.
  Enamel tufts are most common in the enamel of molars of animals that crush hard food objects, such as nuts and shellfish.
context_section_description: Enamel tufts are hypomineralized ribbon-like structures that run longitudinally to the tooth axis and extend from the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) one fifth to a third into the  enamel.  They are called ‘‘tufts’’ due to their wavy look within the enamel microstructure.
  Biomechanically, enamel tufts are ‘‘closed cracks’’ or defects which, in their manner of propagating, act to prevent enamel fractures. This aspect of them is being studied to see how to make more fracture-resistant materials. However, they can also form without stress during enamel development.
  Enamel tufts are most common in the enamel of molars of animals that crush hard food objects, such as nuts (crushed by apes) and shellfish (crushed by sea otters).
caption: This is a histologic cross-section of a tooth and shows enamel (top right, slightly reddish with crack to the surface edge in corner) and dentin (bottom left, two slightly purplish light and then dark bands). The lightish boundary between them is the dentinoenamel junction. From this can be seen enamel tufts growing towards the top right.
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