Abstract
The authors devised a new handy apparatus for iontophoresis in order to prevent pulp irritation caused by tooth reduction. This study was intended to observe the ability of the device.
8% zinc chloride solution was iontophoresed in the dentin of extracted human and bovine teeth by the device. Then, the dye and microbial invasion tests were carried out to investigate how effectively it could seal the dentinal tubules.
The following conclusions were drawn:
1. By thezinc iontophoresis, the zinc briefly penetrated into the deep portion of the dentin.
2. The zinc iontophoresis by using the new device showed enough abilityto decrease the coloring and bacterial invasion into the dentin, although all ofthe dentinal tubules were not sealed.
3. The tensile strengths of an adhesive luting resin ' Panavia EX' to the bovine dentin decreased significantly by thezinc iontophoresis. This phenomenon could be partly due to the lack of resin tagformation into the dentinal tubules.
