The Rate of Flow in Dentinal Tubules Due to Capillary Attraction

Abstract

The rate of rise of synovial and cerebrospinal fluids was measured in fine glass capillaries. After the required constants of the materials were determined, the corresponding theoretical values were calculated from Poiseulle''s law. There is a close agreement between the theoretical and observed values. The angle of contact between the fluids and dentine was measured. On the basis of the values for the rats of rise and for the angle of contact, the presumed rate of rise of the contents of a dentinal tubule due to capillarity was calculated. Assuming that physical properties of the tubule contents are similar to those for synovial and cerebrospinal fluid and that the angle of contact between these fluids and dentine are the same as for the tubule wall against tubule fluid, the rate of flow in a dentinal tubule due to capillary attraction was calculated to be about 2-4 mm/sec. from the pulp.