Which substance stops forming when there is damage to the tooth?

When there is damage to a tooth, dentin formation ceases due to the disruption of the odontoblasts, which are the cells responsible for producing dentin, the hard tissue that forms the bulk of a tooth beneath the enamel. Once a tooth is fully developed, the ability of odontoblasts to continue forming dentin is limited to certain conditions, such as in response to injury or decay. However, significant damage can impair the ability of these cells to respond, leading to a halt in dentin production.

In contrast, enamel, once formed, does not regenerate or repair itself, as it lacks living cells, but it can still be present despite damage. The pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels, can also undergo changes or damage but is not directly responsible for the formation of dentin itself. Lastly, cementum, the tissue covering the tooth root, can continue to form in response to certain stimuli but also does not regenerate in the same way dentin does. Thus, when tooth damage occurs, particularly affecting the underlying structures where dentin is formed, the dentin production will effectively cease.