Dentin is considered to be what type of tissue?

Dentin is classified as living tissue because it has the capability to undergo physiological changes and is vital for the overall health and function of the tooth. Its structure contains cells known as odontoblasts, which are responsible for producing and maintaining dentin throughout the life of the tooth. These cells reside in the dental pulp and have processes that extend into the dentin, allowing communication between the pulp and the dentin itself. This living aspect of dentin plays a significant role in the tooth's response to stimuli and can even react to dental injuries by forming reparative dentin.

In contrast, dead tissue would lack the cellular components necessary for maintenance and repair, while non-structural tissue does not adequately describe dentin's role and composition within the tooth structure. Artificial tissue implies a man-made construct, which does not apply to dentin's natural biological function. Hence, recognizing dentin as living tissue is important for understanding its function in dental health.