The Influence of Restorative Dental Materials on Heat Transmission in Human Teeth

Abstract

Using the finite element method, we analyzed the temperature distribution and heat flow patterns in an axisymmetric tooth model. The models of an unrestored tooth and three teeth restored with different restorative materials were evaluated comparatively. The insulating ability of a calcium hydroxide cement base (Ca(OH)2) is low, which is inherent in its insufficient thermal and poor mechanical properties. In the given conditions, the Ca(OH)2 base reduces the temperature increase at the cement-dentin interface by 12.5% with respect to a restoration of amalgam only. By using a double base (Ca(OH)2 + polymer-modified zinc oxide-eugenol), the reduction is 21.9%. With respect to a sound tooth model, the presence of a double base in the restored tooth caused a temperature increase of only 0.1 degree C at the pulpo-dentinal junction. The thermal conductivity coefficient (lambda) of amalgam does not have any influence on the results of the calculations. The heat transfer coefficient (alpha) turned out to be an essential parameter in this mathematical model.

Direct measurement of time-dependent anesthetized in vivo human pulp temperature

“…Thus, the second research hypothesis was rejected. Interestingly, such a finding corroborates the assumption made by Spierings et al [16], who assumed the baseline PT as being 35.2 • C, using a finite element method, and helps explain why temperature values at the external pulpal surface of preparations or the external temperature of some teeth range from 28 to 30 • C [17,18]. In this context, it must be emphasized that vasoconstriction promoted by epinephrine might have contributed to these lower values.…”

Modeling the Mechanical Behavior of the Jaws and Their Related Structures By Finite Element (Fe) Analysis

“…This thermal expansion or contraction may follow the application of heat from any source, such as from dietary sources of hot and cold foods, which may present a temperature variation of about 50°C within a tooth (Spierings et at., 1987). Thermal analyses were carried out for the study of the temperature transmission in teeth (De Vree et al, 1983b;Spierings et al, 1984Spierings et al, , 1986 (Anusavice et al, 1982) and an amalgam-tooth system (Wright and Yettram, 1978). Internal stresses may also result from volume changes in a restoration due to amalgam setting (Wright and Yettram, 1978) or the polymerization process of adhesive restorative composites (Versluis, 1994).…”

Verification of Theoretical Modeling of Heat Transmission in Teeth by in vivo Experiments

“…In recent studies (Spierings et al, 1984(Spierings et al, , 1986a, transient heat transport problems within axisymmetric models of unrestored and various restored teeth were theoretically analyzed by means of Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Due to lack of detailed knowledge concerning the thermal load on teeth caused by a draught of liquid, the ambient temperature imposed by the liquid change was assumed to vary linearly with time (de Vree et al, 1983).…”