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

Abstract

We performed a computer analysis of the pulpal threshold of pain predicted for thermal stimuli (heat and cold) using the finite element method. The correlation of pulpal pain was studied in the mandibular first and second primary molars for various restorative materials for application of thermal stimuli to the restorative material and tooth, with changes in cavity preparation form (Class I and Class II) and thermal conductivity of the restorative material.
Our computer simulation showed that heat stimuli applied to the occlusal surface produced pain about 57℃ and cold stimuli at about 21℃. The pain occurred near the pulp horn. We found that for thermal stimuli, restorative materials with lower thermal conductivity induced less pulpal pain. This was true for both Class I and Class II restorations. We also found that there was more pain to thermal stimuli for deeper proximal restorations when the restorative material was of higher thermal conductivity.