Evaluation of temperature changes in the pulp chamber during polymerization of pulp capping materials

Abstract

Polymerization of resin-based materials leads to temperature rise, caused by the exothermic nature of the reaction and energy absorbed during polymerization. This temperature rise is influenced by intensity of light, composition of resins, and type of light source. This study evaluated thermal insulating properties of four photo-polymerizing pulp-capping agents in primary and permanent teeth. Roots of 80 primary and permanent teeth were removed. Class-I cavities were prepared on the occlusal surfaces of teeth. Materials used were TheraCal LC, Biner LC, ACTIVA BioACTIVE, and Calciplus LC and light sources were 3 M-Elipar and VALO LED. Temperature rise was measured using a J-type thermocouple. Data were statistically evaluated using ANOVA and Tukey's tests (p = 0.05). VALO LED exhibited significantly lower temperature rise in all groups and temperature rise in primary teeth was significantly higher with all experimental materials (p < 0.05). The highest temperature change was observed in the Biner LC group (3.82 ± 0.58) and the lowest change in the Activa-BioACTIVE group (1.78 ± 0.34). The VALO LED light source caused a significantly lower increase in pulpal temperature compared with the 3 M-Elipar source. All tested materials and light sources maintained pulpal temperature under safe limits, with temperature increases not exceeding 5.5°C.

Temperature changes in the pulp chamber induced by polymerization of resin-based dental restoratives following simulated direct pulp capping

“…Our results showed that the chemically-cured lining material does not increase the temperature in the pulp chamber when it is placed over a direct pulp capping material. Temperature changes during liner light-curing elevated the pulp chamber temperature in the range of 5 -8.5 °C, which was comparable to temperature changes during light-curing of lining materials in previous studies [21,22,26]. This finding indicates that about 0.5 mm pulp exposure closed with any of the clinically recommended pulp capping materials sustains a comparable thermal challenge to the pulp as a liner-protected deep cavity without the pulp exposure.…”

“…Temperature changes ranging between 1.8 and 9.5 °C during light-curing of various lining materials (light-cured resin-based calcium-hydroxyde, calcium-silicate, calcium-hydroxyphosphate and glass ionomer cements) were previously reported for specimens with 1 mm of the remaining dentin thickness [21,22,26]. Our results showed that the chemically-cured lining material does not increase the temperature in the pulp chamber when it is placed over a direct pulp capping material.…”

“…It was also reported that an experimental setup involving simulated microcirculation in the pulp chamber resulted in a lower temperature rise [12,15]. Only a few studies reported on temperature changes in the pulp chamber in relation to pulp capping materials, placed as an "indirect cap" in permanent [21,22] or "direct cap" in primary teeth [23].…”