Computer Simulation of the Effects of Various Restorative Materials and Cavity Depth on Postoperative Pain in Mandibular Primary Molars

Abstract

We performed a computer analysis of the pulpal threshold of pain predicted for thermal stimuli (cold air and intake of hot and cold foods) using the finite element method. The correlation of pulpal pain was studied in the mandibular second primary molar for various restorative materials for point application of thermal (hot and cold) stress to the restorative material and tooth, with changes in the depth of the cavity preparation and thermal conductivity of the restorative material.
1. Our computer simulation showed that hot stimuli applied to the occlusal surface produced pain at 56℃ and cold stimuli at about 21℃. The pain occurred near the pulp horn.
2. We found that restorative materials with lower thermal conductivity induced less pulpal pain for the same thermal stimuli. This was true for both shallow and deep cavity preparations.