[Temperature measurements in the pulp chamber during onlay and inlay preparation]

The effect of fast turning burrs and diamond points upon teeth during cavity preparation was tested in a model experiment under laboratory conditions, in order to establish possible damaging effects upon the pulp through an increase in temperature. The most effective protection comes from water cooling. Also successful was the technique of intermittent instead of continuous preparation. Only methods currently used in practice were tested thus making the test particularly valuable to daily practice. Thus it could be proved that the use of super-torque airotors as well as of the micromotor cannot cause thermic damage to the pulp if used circumspectively.