In-depth Occlusion of Dentinal Tubules and Rapid Remineralization of Demineralized Dentin Induced by Polyelectrolyte-Calcium Complexes.

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is triggered by external stimuli irking fluid flow through exposed dentinal tubules (DTs). Three commercially available desensitizing agents as control in this study only achieved limited occlusion depths of approximately 10 μm in the DTs as well as scarce remineralization of demineralized dentin matrix. Herein, we proposed polyelectrolyte-calcium complexes pre-precursor (PCCP) process for managing DH that demineralized dentin with exposed DTs was rubbed with ultrahighly concentrated polyelectrolyte-calcium suspension (4 g/L- 5.44 M) followed by phosphate solution (3.25 M), each 10 min, leading to heavy remineralization of demineralized dentin and compact occlusion of the DTs over 200 μm after 1 day of in vitro and in vivo incubation. We, for the first time, demonstrate that the PCCP process relies on the pH-dependent electrostatic attraction between electropositive polyelectrolyte-calcium complexes and electronegative inwalls of DTs comprised of collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite crystals under alkaline condition. The PCCP process might shed light on a promising dentin desensitizing strategy for DH management via rapid in-depth DT occlusion and remineralization of demineralized dentin. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.