In-vitro investigation of temperature change during interproximal reduction and subsequent polishing

OBJECTIVE: 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. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intact and extracted 21 lower incisors were selected for this study. The samples prepared and placed in the pulpal microcirculation model were treated with 0,3 mm IPR with a perforated diamond-coated disc. As second step, the samples were polished for 80 seconds 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. Temperature changes were recorded with a thermal camera. Friedman Halton test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and Mann Whitney U test were used to compare the changes over time and determine the differences between the measurements. RESULTS: The temperature change (∆T) at the IPR procedure was measured as 2,74±1,4C. ∆T were measured as 2,74C and 3,73C, respectively, at the water cooling and without water cooling groups. T1, T2, T3, Tmax and ∆T temperature measurements of water cooling and without water cooling groups show statistically significant differences (p<0.001). ∆T temperature measurement of the without water cooling group was found higher, but temperature increase above the critical value of 5,5C was not detected in both groups. CONCLUSION: 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 5,5C occurred. It is concluded that polishing after IPR is a safe procedure to prevent complications that may occur. Key Words: Interproximal Reduction, Polishing, Temperature Change, Thermal Camera