Temperature increases in primary teeth pulp chamber during polymerization of glass ionomer-based restorative materials

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the temperature changes in primary teeth pulp chambers of different dentin thicknesses during polymerization of four glass ionomer-based restorative materials. Materials and Methods: Eighty extracted, caries‑free, primary molars were prepared as standardized Class I occlusal cavities with dentin thicknesses of 1 mm and 2 mm. Four glass ionomer-based restorative materials, Dyract XP, Photac Fil Quick Aplicap, Fuji II LC, and GCP Glass Fill, were placed in the cavities and cured with two light-curing units. Temperature increases (initial temperature, 37℃) in the pulp chamber during polymerization were recorded by a J-type thermocouple in a pulpal microcirculation set-up. The data were analyzed with Variance analyses and Tukey tests. Results: The temperatures recorded in samples with dentin thicknesses of 1 mm and 2 mm exhibited statistically significant differences (p