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Why does enamel vary in thickness across the surface of a tooth?
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tooth
Cross section of an adult human molar.
The variation in enamel thickness across the surface of a tooth is a functional adaptation related to the mechanical demands placed on the crown. Enamel is thickest and hardest at the biting edges, or cusps, where the tooth experiences the greatest amount of force and wear during mastication.1
The overall shape and size of the crown, including the distribution of enamel, are determined during development by the enamel organ, an embryonic structure that maps out the tooth's architecture. While the surface enamel is generally more mineralized and resistant to caries than the underlying layers, its structural thickness is strategically concentrated to provide durability where the tooth is most active.21