The influence of restorative dental materials on heat transmission in human teeth

Using the finite element method, we analyzed the temperature distribution and heat flow patterns in an axisymmetric tooth model. The models of an unrestored tooth and three teeth restored with different restorative materials were evaluated comparatively. The insulating ability of a calcium hydroxide cement base (Ca(OH)2) is low, which is inherent in its insufficient thermal and poor mechanical properties. In the given conditions, the Ca(OH)2 base reduces the temperature increase at the cement-dentin interface by 12.5% with respect to a restoration of amalgam only. By using a double base (Ca(OH)2 + polymer-modified zinc oxide-eugenol), the reduction is 21.9%. With respect to a sound tooth model, the presence of a double base in the restored tooth caused a temperature increase of only 0.1 degree C at the pulpo-dentinal junction. The thermal conductivity coefficient (lambda) of amalgam does not have any influence on the results of the calculations. The heat transfer coefficient (alpha) turned out to be an essential parameter in this mathematical model.