The purpose of this study was to investigate whether tooth-brushing with a microcurrent was effective in inducing dentinal tubule occlusion. The specific aims of the study were (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of tooth-brushing with a microcurrent on dentinal tubule occlusion by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); and (2) to compare the dentinal fluid flow rate after tooth-brushing with a microcurrent by using a sub-nanoliter-scaled fluid flow measuring device (NFMD). All experimental groups showed partially occluded dentinal tubules and crystal-like structures at a specific microcurrent intensity indicated that tooth-brushing with a microcurrent could efficiently occlude dentinal tubules. The decrease in dentinal fluid flow rate in the tooth-brushing with microcurrents group indicated that dentinal tubules were occluded and the flow of dentinal fluid had decreased.
Keywords: Dentin hypersensitivity; Dentinal tubule; Microcurrent; Nanoliter-scaled fluid flow measuring device; SEM.