Simulations of thermal processes in tooth proceeding during cold pulp vitality testing

Purpose: This paper deals with the mathematical modeling of the thermal processes occurring in the tooth, during a very brief contact (a few seconds) with a very cold liquid on a part of the tooth crown. In this way one can simulate a heat transfer in tooth proceeding during a dental diagnostic test - pulp vitality testing. The impact of rapid ambient thermal changes acting on the tooth can cause toothache. Methods: The mathematical model: a system of partial differential equations with initialboundary conditions (the axially-symmetrical problem) and their numerical solutions using the control volume method is discussed. Results: Simulation results of the kinetics of the temperature changes inside the tooth are presented. The example of the control volume mesh (using the Voronoi polygons) well describing the shape of a molar tooth is given. Conclusions: The simulation results (the temperature distribution in the tooth at any moment of the simulation time and the kinetics of temperature variation at the points of the considered tooth domain) can help dentists in the selection of an appropriate method of treatment.

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Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę.