Bacterial penetration of human dentin in vitro.
The ability of bacteria to penetrate acid-etched and unetched human dentin was examined in vitro using a split chamber. Results indicate that bacteria can grow through or be filtered by pressure through acid-etched dentin. Unetched dentin, while permitting fluid filtration, restricts bacterial penetration. Penetration of dentin tubules by bacteria reduces the rate of fluid filtration across dentin.
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D002455:Cell Division; D003804:Dentin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*