Hyaline layer of Hopewell-Smith Hyaline layer of Hopewell-Smith In tooth development, the hyaline layer of Hopewell-Smith is the most peripheral layer of initially unmineralized dentin that forms immediately subjacent to the cementodentinal junction (CDJ). It eventually mineralizes, but not before the rest of the dentin is already mineralized. It is 0.5-0.8 µm thick and contains enamel matrix-like protein as well as the proteins one would expect to find in dentin. It is into this hyaline layer that the initial fibers of the periodontal ligament embed themselves. The hyaline layer aids cementum in binding to the dentin. The rationale behind the use of enamel matrix
Human tooth development (0.1–0.2 μm in diameter). The odontoblasts begin to move toward the center of the tooth, forming an extension called the odontoblast process. Thus, dentin formation proceeds toward the inside of the tooth. The odontoblast process causes the secretion of hydroxyapatite crystals and mineralization of the matrix. This area of mineralization is known as mantle dentin and is a layer usually about 150 μm thick. Whereas mantle dentin forms from the preexisting ground substance of the dental papilla, primary dentin forms through a different process. Odontoblasts increase in size, eliminating the availability of any extracellular resources to contribute to an organic