The moisture content of vital and endodontically treated teeth was compared in matched pairs of contralateral human teeth extracted for prosthodontic reasons. Samples from each tooth were weighed then placed in an oven to remove the unbound water from the dentin. Weighing was carried out daily until a constant weight was achieved for three days. The moisture content was then calculated and expressed as a percentage of the initial sample weight. It was found that vital dentin had a moisture content of 12.35% whilst dentin from endodontically treated teeth had a moisture content of 12.10%. These results indicated that there was no significant difference in the moisture content between endodontically treated teeth and vital teeth.

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Conventional cavity designs are coming under increased scrutiny because of an increased emphasis on preservation of tooth substance. The tunnel restoration, when used with glass ionomer, may overcome some of the disadvantages of conventional cavity preparations. Justification for the use of the tunnel restoration is from a limited number of short‐term clinical observations and destructive laboratory testing of marginal ridge strength. The technique is not without shortcomings. Long‐term clinical and nondestructive laboratory trials examining the strength of teeth with tunnel restorations should be undertaken prior to its acceptance as a replacement for techniques in which the marginal ridge is removed.