Thermal Injury to Normal Dog Teeth: in Vivo Measurements of Pulp Temperature Increases and Their Effect on the Pulp Tissue

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Abstract
An apparatus was designed to apply measured temps. to the floor of cavity prepns. in teeth and to determine the resultant increase in temp. of the pulp tissue proper. This apparatus consisted of a Cu thermode machined to the diameter of a 560 fissure burr, mounted on the heating element of a soldering iron. A variac and a General Electric voltage stabilizer controlled the temp. A thermocouple (end area .072 mm2) set in a cold end junction and connected to a millivoltmeter was used for measuring temp. increase within the pulp tissue. The alignment of the thermocouple and heat source was accomplished by the use of a threaded yoke. This apparatus was used on 168 sound teeth of dogs. Histological sections were prepared to show the effect of heat on the pulp after varying periods of time. The temp. increase of the pulp tissue proper is a fraction of the temp. applied to the floor of the cavity prepn. The greater the bulk of dentin between the pulp and cavity floor, the less the temp. increases in the pulp. Dentin appears to be an effective insulating material. Normal dog pulps react to temp. applications of 125[degree] to 600[degree] F by alterations in the odontoblastic layer,blister formation, and varying inflammatory changes. All pulps showed healing after thermal injury regardless of the temp. applied.
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