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Effect of aging and caries on dentin permeability
J Tagami1, H Hosoda, M F Burrow
1Department of Operative Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Proceedings of the Finnish Dental Society. Suomen Hammaslaakariseuran Toimituksia
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Older adults exhibit significantly reduced dentin permeability, with carious lesions rendering old dentin completely impermeable. This age-related change in dentin structure impacts its hydraulic conductance.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Biomaterials Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Dentin permeability is crucial for understanding fluid transport and material interactions in teeth.
- Age-related changes in dentin structure and properties are not fully elucidated.
- Carious lesions significantly alter dentin's physical characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of aging and caries on human dentin permeability.
- To compare the hydraulic conductance of young versus old dentin, both normal and carious.
- To correlate structural changes observed via scanning electron microscopy with functional permeability data.
Main Methods:
- Human teeth from young (20-28 yrs) and old (45-69 yrs) patients were analyzed.
- Dentin slabs were prepared, and teeth were categorized into carious and noncarious groups.
- Hydraulic conductance was measured, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for structural analysis after phosphoric acid treatment.
Main Results:
- Old normal dentin showed only 20% of the permeability of young normal dentin.
- Young carious dentin was 14% as permeable as young normal dentin; most specimens remained permeable.
- Old carious dentin specimens were completely impermeable, with SEM revealing increased intratubular crystals.
Conclusions:
- Aging significantly reduces dentin hydraulic conductance.
- Carious lesions further decrease dentin permeability, especially in older individuals, leading to impermeability.
- Increased intratubular mineralization in aged and carious dentin provides a structural basis for reduced permeability.