The effects of outward forced convective flow on inward diffusion in human dentine in vitro.

In vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of outward forced convective flow on the inward diffusion of radioactive iodide. When the smear layer was present, application of 15 cmH2O (1.47 kPa) outward-directed filtration pressure reduced the inward flux of iodide by about 10-20% depending upon the hydraulic conductance of each specimen. When the smear layer was removed by acid etching, the same 1.47 kPa pressure lowered the inward iodide flux by as much as 60%, depending on the hydraulic conductance. The results demonstrate the importance of the balance between inward diffusion and outward bulk-fluid movement on the rate of permeation of exogenous solutes.