title: Clinical and histological evaluation of thermal injury thresholds in human teeth: a preliminary study.
abstract: The effect on healthy dental pulp of thermal increases ranging from 8.9 to 14.7 degrees C was evaluated. These temperature increases correspond approximately to those caused by certain restorative procedures, such as tooth preparation with high-speed instruments and the fabrication of direct provisional crowns. Two criteria of evaluation have been used in conjunction, a clinical (symptomatic) and a histological one, to assert with greater precision potential damage to the pulp. The results suggest a low susceptibility of cells to heat, which does not appear to be a major factor of injury, at least in the short term. The main cause of postoperative inflammation or necrosis of the pulp is probably the injury of the dentine, a tissue in direct functional and physiological connection with the pulp.
authors.affiliation: University of Ferrara, School of Dentistry, Department of Prosthodontics, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baldissara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catapano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003442:Crowns / Q000009:adverse effects; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000009:adverse effects; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003804:Dentin / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D017288:Pain Threshold; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000209:etiology; D013821:Thermometers; D013997:Time Factors