[Microbial permeability of dentin]

This is a review of the literature about the contemporary aspects of microbial permeability of dentin. They are discussed the factors that are responsible for this question and analytically: the structure of dentin, the composition of dentin in organic and inorganic ingredients, the response mechanisms of dentin, that is the irritation dentin and sclerotic dentin, the hypermineralized zone under carious lesions, the role of saliva and dentinal fluid, the role of pulp and its microcirculation against the invasion of microbes and, the role of smear layer. Also this article refers to the immunological reaction of the pulp and finally to the role of dentist in the permeability of dentin, because the more conservative is a tooth preparation the less is the permeability of dentin. In conclusion, the microbial permeability of dentin is a very complicated biological phenomenon that needs more study and further investigations.