Influence of the pulpal components on human dentine permeability in vitro

The effect of tooth bleaching on substance P expression in human dental pulp

The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of tooth bleaching on substance P (SP) expression in healthy human dental pulp. Forty pulp samples were obtained from healthy premolars in which extraction was indicated for orthodontic reasons. Thirty of these premolars were assigned into three different tooth-bleaching protocols: group 1 (n = 10): Opalescence Xtra Boost (Ultradent Products, South Jordan, UT) (38% H(2)O(2)) for 15 minutes; group 2 (n = 10): Lase Peroxide (DMC, Brazil) (35% H(2)O(2)) activated with infrared laser diode (Biolux; BioArt, Brazil) for 3 minutes, and group 3 (n = 10): Zoom! Whitening System (Discuss Dental, Culver City, CA) (25% H(2)O(2)) light activated for 20 minutes. The remaining 10 healthy premolars serve as a control group. Teeth were anesthetized immediately after bleaching and were extracted 10 minutes later. All pulp samples were processed and SP was measured by radioimmunoassay. Greater SP expression was found in the Zoom! Whitening System, followed by the Lase Peroxide group, Opalescence Xtra Boost, and the lower SP values were for the control group. Analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences between groups (p = 0.0001). Tukey HSD post hoc tests showed significant differences in the light (p < 0.01) and laser (p < 0.05) activated bleaching systems when compared with control values. It can be concluded that light- and laser-activated tooth-bleaching systems increase SP expression in human dental pulp significantly higher than normal values.

The repeatability of human dentine permeability measurement in vitro

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the repeatability of apparatus designed to assess dentine permeability at two different pressures.

METHOD

Forty-five human coronal tooth portions were prepared and permeability was measured at two separate time points, 5h apart, at 14 cm H2O pressure and then at 100 cm H2O pressure. Repeatability was determined using the limits of agreement (LOA) method.

RESULTS

The results showed equal mean permeability of 0.6 microl at both time 1 and time 2 at 14 cm H2O pressure, and 2.7 and 2.5 microl at time 1 and time 2, respectively, at 100 cm H2O pressure. At 14 cm H2O pressure, the LOA were (-0.4, 0.4)microl and at 100 cm H2O pressure the LOA were (-0.2, 0.6)microl.

CONCLUSION

Although repeatability measurement at 14 cm H2O pressure appeared to be acceptable, the higher permeability values at 100 cm H2O pressure may make the latter the pressure of choice despite the small bias.

An investigation of thermal stimulation in intact teeth

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the response of extracted intact teeth to thermal stimulation in terms of fluid movement, in relation to temperature change within tooth structure.

METHODS

Dentinal fluid movement was measured in response to thermal stimuli applied to enamel. Freshly extracted teeth with intact crowns were investigated for the effects of thermal stimulation; namely, hot water (80 degrees C), iced water (2 degrees C) and carbon dioxide dry ice (-72 degrees C) for 5s application. Two capillary-based methods were used to measure fluid flow. To measure temperature changes at the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ) and pulpal wall in response to the same stimuli, fine J type thermocouples were used.

RESULTS

Thermal stimuli caused fluid movement, which occurred before the temperature changed at the pulp wall. Sealing the dentinal tubules resulted in a delayed response time. In general, fluid movement occurred coincident with the temperature change detected at the DEJ. However, many teeth showed a "bidirectional" response to thermal stimulation. The initial fluid movement in the bidirectional response was detected before the earliest temperature change observed at the DEJ, and was in the opposite direction to the main fluid movement.

CONCLUSION

Our results imply that thermal contraction and expansion of dentinal fluid may not be the complete explanation for dentinal fluid movement in intact teeth. Enamel may serve not only as a temperature transfer medium but may also expand or contract when subjected to thermal stimulation.