Influence of Cavity Preparation, Light-curing Units, and Composite Filling on Intrapulpal Temperature Increase in an In Vitro Tooth Model

Abstract

SUMMARY This study examined the effect of both the tooth substance and restorative filling materials on the increase in pulp chamber temperature when using light-curing units with different power densities. The tip of a temperature sensor was positioned on the pulpal dentinal wall of the buccal side of a maxillary premolar. Metal tubes were inserted in the palatal and buccal root of the tooth, one for water inflow and the other for water outflow. Polyethylene tubes were connected from the metal tubes to a pump to control the flow rate. For the unprepared tooth group (group 1), the tooth was light-cured from the buccal side using two light-curing units (three curing modes): the VIP Junior (QTH, BISCO, Schaumburg, IL, USA) and the Bluephase LED light-curing units (two modes: LEDlow and LEDhigh; Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein). The power densities of each light-curing unit for the LEDlow, QTH, and LEDhigh modes were 785 mW/cm2, 891 mW/cm2, and 1447 mW/cm2, respectively. All light-curing units were activated for 60 seconds. For the prepared tooth group (group 2), a Class V cavity, 4.0 mm in width by 4.0 mm in height by 1.8 mm in depth in size, was prepared on the buccal surface of the same tooth for the temperature measurement. The light-curing and temperature measurements were performed using the same methods used in group 1. The cavity prepared in group 2 was filled with a resin composite (Tetric N Ceram A3 shade, Ivoclar Vivadent) (group 3) or a flowable composite (Tetric N Flow with A3 shade, Ivoclar Vivadent) (group 4). The light-curing and temperature measurements were performed for these groups using the same methods used for the other groups. The highest intrapulpal temperature (TMAX) was measured, and a comparison was conducted between the groups using two-way analysis of variance with a post hoc Tukey test at the 95% confidence level. The TMAX values were as follows: 38.4°C (group 1), 39.0°C (group 2), 39.8°C (group 3), and 40.3°C (group 4) for the LEDlow mode. For the QTH mode, the TMAX values were 40.1°C (group 1), 40.4°C (group 2), 40.9°C (group 3), and 41.4°C (group 4). For the LEDhigh mode, the TMAX values were 43.3°C (group 1), 44.5°C (group 2), 44.7°C (group 3), and 45.3°C (group 4). The statistical analysis revealed the following: the TMAX values were arranged by mode in the following manner: LEDlow < QTH < LEDhigh (p<0.05) and group 1 < group 2 ≤ group 3 ≤ group 4 (p<0.05).