Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1096-1100, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The influence of restorative dental materials on heat transmission in human teeth
T. A. Spierings, J. H. de Vree, M. C. Peters and A. J. Plasschaert
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.
