title: Dentine permeability and its role in the pathobiology of dentine sensitivity.
abstract: The classical hydrodynamic theory implicated fluid movement as a transducing mechanism in the production of dental sensitivity. This theory assumes that sensitive dentine must be permeable. Various measurements of dentine permeability are discussed, including: (1) factors that influence diffusive permeation across dentine; (2) factors that influence convective fluid movement across dentine; (3) osmotic activities of solutions; (4) comparison of evaporative and convective fluid movement; (5) the interaction between outward convective fluid flux on the inward diffusive flux of molecules; and (6) the importance of pulpal blood flow in the clearance of noxious substances from dentine and pulp, a balance concept. The variables involved in achieving good penetration of desensitizing agents in the presence of outward movement of dentinal fluid are also discussed, along with the presentation of a new hypothesis which emphasizes the importance of dentine as a dynamic physiological barrier that works in harmony with neurovascular elements in the pulp in an attempt to maintain the health of the pulp-dentine complex.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-1129.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pashley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000502:physiology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003804:Dentin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003806:Dentin Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D012212:Rheology
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices