Effects of plaque control on the patency of dentinal tubules: an in vivo study in beagle dogs.
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.
Suge
Toshiyuki
T
Department of Conservative Dentistry, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. suge@dent.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Kawasaki
Akiko
A
Ishikawa
Kunio
K
Matsuo
Takashi
T
Ebisu
Shigeyuki
S
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
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate