In vivo real-time temperature measurement on the surface of intact and gold-restored teeth during consumption of hot and cold drinks

This study aimed to measure real-time temperature changes in gold-restored teeth compared with intact teeth during the intake of hot and cold drinks. Sixteen molars, including eight natural intact teeth and eight restored teeth with gold inlays, were selected from the participants. Custom-made thermocouple sensors were attached to the coronal third of the buccal surface of teeth. Participants consecutively consumed hot and cold drinks according to a standardized regimen. Resting, maximum, and minimum temperatures; time to reach peak temperatures; and heating and cooling velocities were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using independent two-sample t-test. Teeth with gold restorations showed a significantly higher maximum temperature (44.7 degrees C [SD 2.91) than did natural teeth (40.5 degrees C [SD 1.2]) during hot water drinking and showed a lower minimum temperature (25.0 degrees C [SD 4.9]) than did natural teeth (31.5 degrees C vertical bar SD 3.1 vertical bar during cold water drinking. The heating and cooling rates for the teeth with gold restorations were two and three times higher than those of the natural teeth. Gold-restored teeth showed greater temperature change than intact teeth in terms of magnitude and velocity in response to temperature changes induced by hot and cold drinks.