Application of a device to lower pulpal temperatures in vivo.
Heat generated by tooth reduction and restoration procedures may be harmful to the pulp.  Water spray during those procedures aids in maintaining lowered pulpal temperatures.  A device that lowers intrapulpal temperatures has been developed and tested in an animal model.  The animal's pulp chamber temperatures were lowered to 15.5 degrees C and 12.4 degrees C and maintained at those temperatures for 20 min.  Histological examinations disclosed no inflammatory reaction to the testing.  Therefore, this device may aid in reducing the trauma of dental preparation procedures as well as other effects of lowered temperature on the biology of the dental pulp.
Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of California School of Dentistry, San Francisco 94143.
H E
HE
Goodis
J M
JM
White
L G
LG
Watanabe
D000818:Animals; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003782:Dental Pulp; D004867:Equipment Design; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D013696:Temperature; D014070:Tooth