What is the term for the hard, bonelike tissue that covers the outside of a tooth's root?

Cementum is the correct term for the hard, bonelike tissue that covers the outside of a tooth's root. This specialized connective tissue serves several important functions: it helps anchor the tooth to the surrounding periodontal ligament, plays a role in tooth stability, and is involved in the process of tooth eruption. Cementum also has a composition that allows for some regeneration, unlike enamel, which does not regenerate once it's formed.

Dentin, while an important component of the tooth, is primarily located beneath the enamel and cementum, making up the bulk of the tooth's structure. Enamel is the hard, protective outer layer found on the crown of the tooth rather than the root. The periodontal ligament, on the other hand, connects the tooth to the surrounding alveolar bone but is not a tissue that covers the tooth itself. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why cementum specifically is the correct answer in this context.