Search for a command to run...
Interproximal reduction (IPR) is widely used in orthodontics, but the heat generated during this procedure may affect pulp tissue. The aim of this study is to evaluate the temperature changes in the pulp chamber of lower incisor teeth during IPR process and subsequent polishing, by simulating the pulpal microcirculation, with a thermal camera. Intact and extracted 21 lower incisors were prepared and placed on the pulpal microcirculation model were treated with 0.3 mm IPR with perforated diamond-coated disc. As second step, the samples were polished for 80 s with fine Sof-Lex discs. On one surface of the teeth, the polishing process was carried out dry, on the other surface with water cooling. The initial pulp chamber temperature (T0), 45th second (T1), 60th second (T2), and 80th second (T3) temperatures were recorded with a thermal camera. The temperature change (∆T) at the IPR was measured as 2.74 ± 1.4 °C. ∆T were measured as 2.74 °C and 3.73 °C, respectively, at the water cooling and dry polishing groups. T1, T2, T3, Tmax and ∆T temperature measurements of water cooling and dry polishing groups show statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). ∆T measurement of the dry polishing group was found higher, but temperature increase above the critical value of 5.5 °C was not detected in both groups. Statistically significant temperature increase occurs in both IPR and polishing application. As a result of the polishing with or without water cooling, no temperature increase above 5.5 °C occurred. The temperature increase recorded during the 80 s polishing with Sof-Lex discs following IPR was not sufficient enough to harm pulp tissue. Although a statistically significant temperature increase was observed during both IPR and polishing, no temperature increase above 5.5°C was detected during IPR. The higher temperature increase observed with dry polishing compared to water cooling suggests that water cooling is an effective method to reduce temperature increase. The temperature change during the 80 second polishing with Sof-Lex discs following IPR is not at a level that would harm the pulp tissue.