Effects of electrosurgery on dog pulps under cervical metallic restorations

Fifty-four Class V amalgam restorations were placed in nine beagle dogs to determine whether electrosurgical effects on pulp tissue could be altered by the presence of metallic restorations. An electrosurgical technique was performed, simulating clinical procedures for tissue removal while traversing the restorations. Time and power-use measurements were recorded for each operation. All operations that were performed within a time range imitating clinical procedures failed to produce changes in pulpal histology. When electrosurgical exposures were extended beyond 0.4 second contact with restorations, pulpal alterations occurred in the majority of specimens.