Tooth surfiace and pulp chamber temperatures developed during electrothermal bonding

The rationale of electrothermal bonding is based on the premise that when an electric current is passed across the beaks of tweezers holding a stainless steel orthodontic bracket, heat will be generated by virtue of the electrical resistance of the steel bracket. This study was carried out to evaluate the temperatures generated on the tooth surface at the bracket/tooth interface and within the pulp chamber during electrothermal bonding. Temperatures were recorded with 5 and 7.5 A current levels applied as a 1 second pulse with time intervals between pulses of 1, 2, 3, and 4 seconds. The data showed that after three pulses with a 5 A current, the temperature on the tooth surface ranged between 43.3^o C (4 second intervals) to 53.6^o C (1 second intervals). By using a 7.5 A current, the temperature ranged from 77.5^o C (4 second intervals) to 85.9^o C (1 second intervals). The pulp chamber temperatures were evaluated in vitro for a mandibular incisor, the maxillary central and lateral incisors, a canine, a premolar, and a molar. The pulp chamber temperature of a mandibular incisor responded most, whereas that of premolars and molars responded least to temperature changes on the labial surface. The increase in mandibular incisor pulp chamber temperature after three pulses was 2.1^o C for 5 A and 2.8^o C for 7.5 A current while for a premolar the increase ranged from 0.9^o C to 1.6^o C. On the basis of current evidence the increase in pulp chamber temperatures during electrothermal bonding may be considered to be clinically safe. (Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop 1996;109:506-14.)