[Heat-induced symptomatology in human teeth. An in-vitro study].
OBJECTIVE
Various dental procedures can generate thermal increase in the dental pulp, in particular if they are incorrectly conducted. In literature the pulp cells are considered very heat sensitive. In this study the symptomatological response of patients during and after thermal administration to the dental crown has been recorded. The analysis of the symptomatology was used as an indication for the definition of the threshold of thermal damage.


METHODS
Twelve healthy teeth of four patients programmed for extraction were subdivided into six couples of homologous teeth. One tooth out of each couple was used for the immediate in vivo recording of the symptoms; the other, once extracted, was used to determine the thermal increase applied through the insertion of a thermocouple sensor. In each couple of teeth the thermal stimulus was equal.


RESULTS
The average thermal increase was 11.2 degrees C. Pain starts at temperatures ranging from 39.5 to 50.4 degrees C with an average of 44.6 degrees C. This agrees with classical physiological data which reports the threshold of pain at 45 degrees C.


CONCLUSIONS
The threshold of pain registered suggests that at temperatures below 44.6 degrees C damage to the dental pulp is improbable, at least in healthy teeth. The limit of 45 degrees C appears, therefore, to be a probable safe threshold, contrary to what is reported in literature.
Baldissara
P
P
Sezione di Clinica Odontoiatrica, Università degli Studi, Ferrara.
Bortolini
S
S
Papale
G
G
Scotti
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001641:Bicuspid; D002648:Child; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008963:Molar; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology*; D014098:Toothache / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
Sintomatologia indotta dal calore su denti umani. Studio in vivo.