Pulp ablation therapy by inductive heating: heat generation characteristics in the pulp cavity.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: This study was performed to clarify the usefulness of inductive heating system for the new endodontic therapy. Dextran magnetite complex (DM) suspensions were injected into the root canal of a permanent tooth, and the tooth was heated up to about 55.0 degrees C by alternating-current magnetic field. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The time until the temperature in the pulp cavity reached 55.0 degrees C was 328 +/- 26 s (mean +/- s.d., n = 8) in the 56 mg as Fe ml(-1) of DM concentration. The temperature in the pulp cavity could be maintained at 53.5-59.0 degrees C for 1200 s by changing the magnetic field intensity safely, while temperature elevations of the dental surface on the coronal and apical sides were 4.9 degrees and 3.7 degrees C, respectively. Thus, this inductive heating system, which has the possibility of selective heating, might be useful for eliminating residues of pulp as a new ablation therapy.