title: Effects of plaque control on the patency of dentinal tubules: an in vivo study in beagle dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the effects of plaque control on the patency of dentinal tubules using vital teeth of beagle dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Class V cavities were prepared on the cervical areas of the mandibular and maxillary molars in each dog with a diamond point. To simulate the state of dentinal hypersensitivity, the teeth were etched with 50% citric acid for 2 minutes to obtain patent dentinal tubules. Plaque control was achieved by brushing the left-side teeth every day, whereas no plaque control was performed for the right-side teeth. A dentin biopsy was performed after 1, 2, and 3 weeks using the cylindrical diamond point to obtain dentin specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the plaque control group, some of the dentinal tubules were occluded with precipitate (Ca/P=1.49), and the diameter of the dentinal tubules decreased from 2.42+/-0.33 microm (mean+/-SD) to 1.11+/-0.51 microm after 7 days, although most of the dentinal tubules remained open. In contrast, no precipitate was observed in the dentinal tubules of the non-plaque control group. Also, the diameter of the dentinal tubules increased from 2.42+/-0.33 to 2.9+/-0.49 microm, due to the demineralization of the peritubular and intertubular dentin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plaque control plays a key role in reducing the patency of dentinal tubules and, therefore, might promote the natural repair of dentinal hypersensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. suge@dent.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suge
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebisu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003804:Dentin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003806:Dentin Permeability; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014099:Toothbrushing
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate