Temperature extremes produced orally by hot and cold liquids

Thermocycling in vitro is a common way of testing dental materials to aid in establishing suitability for in vivo use. There is no standard temperature range for dental material thermocycling. This research attempts to establish an appropriate temperature range by measuring extremes of temperature achieved orally in human volunteer subjects. By using an intraoral digital thermometer probe, 13 human subjects were observed as they drank very hot and cold liquids. The temperature extremes produced intraorally were measured and adjusted for possible error. The results of this study suggest that a range of 0 degrees to 67 degrees C may be appropriate for dental material thermocycling.