Dental Assistant Practice Exam

The color typically associated with enamel is yellowish to greyish-white. Enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth, is not perfectly white, as it can vary in hue depending on a number of factors including genetics, diet, and overall dental health. Natural enamel has a translucent quality, allowing some degree of color reflection from the underlying dentin, which has a more yellowish tint. This is why enamel often appears to have a yellowish to greyish-white color rather than being a pure white. The variations in color can also be influenced by age and staining from foods, beverages, or habits such as smoking. This characteristic color helps to identify the health of the enamel, as well as provide a realistic depiction of what healthy teeth look like in an oral environment.