The effects of storage after extraction of the teeth on human dentine permeability in vitro

Freshly extracted third molars were stored for one week in one of four solutions: 70% ethanol, 10% formalin, distilled water with thymol and phosphate-buffered saline with thymol. Crown segments were prepared and initial permeability measurements taken. Each specimen was placed in a fresh preparation of its original solution, and permeability was measured over two periods: 1, 4, 6 and 8 days or 1, 8, 15 and 22 days. Ten crown segments were used for each solution for each time sequence. Permeabilities were lower for those specimens stored in ethanol and formalin than in water/thymol and saline/thymol, but most specimens showed increased permeability with time. Both storage solution and storage time had statistically significant effects (p less than 0.05), with significant differences between specimens stored in water/thymol and saline/thymol and those stored in ethanol and formalin. Thus, type of storage solution effects dentine permeability over time.