The Effect of Restoration Polymerization and Residual Dentine Thickness on Thermal Changes of Pulp Chamber of Immature Permanent Teeth

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the pulpal temperature changes due to the polymerisation of resin and glass ionomer-based materials in dentine thicknesses in immature permanent teeth with open apices. Material and Methods: Forty extracted sound human third molar teeth with open apices were included. The width of the cavities prepared on the occlusal surface was 4×5 mm. The depth was 2 mm in the resin groups. 4 mm in the groups in which glass ionomer liner was applied before composite restoration. The coronal parts of the samples were then placed on an acrylic plate with three gaps for feeding-extraction needles and the thermocouple. The temperature changes were recorded. The data was analyzed by SPSS. Statistical significance was accepted as p<0.05. Results: The temperature increase in the group of 1 mm remaining dentin thickness revealed higher results than the values detected from the 2 mm group (1.01 °C) (p=0.00). The mean values (1.49 °C, 1mm) of temperature changes in only glass ionomer applied group were lower than the avarage values (2.210°C, 1mm) determined in the polymerization process of resin composites with light-emitting diode devices. Conclusion: In a remaining dentin thickness of 1 mm in teeth with open apices, using a glass ionomer liner might be a useful effort for protecting the pulp from the heat generated by polymerisation devices.

Assessment of the efficacy of an indigeniously developed pulse oximeter dental sensor holder for pulp vitality testing.

Current routine methods of assessment of pulp vitality rely on stimulation of nerve fibres and give no direct indication of blood flow within the pulp. Pulse oximeter is a proven, atraumatic method of measuring vascular status, by evaluating oxygen saturation. This study explores the use of customized dental pulse oximeter sensor holder to assess pulpal vascular oxygen saturation in permanent teeth. Pulse oximeter readily differentiated between known vital and nonvital teeth. Vital teeth consistently provided oxygen saturation values that were lower than the values recorded on the patient's fingers. Pulse oximeter is an accurate, atraumatic clinical alternative to the present electrical and thermal methods of assessing pulp vitality in teeth.