Pulp ablation therapy by inductive heating: heat generation characteristics in the pulp cavity

Objective and methods:  This study was performed to clarify the usefulness of inductive heating system for the new endodontic therapy. Dextran magnetite complex (DM) suspensions were injected into the root canal of a permanent tooth, and the tooth was heated up to about 55.0°C by alternating‐current magnetic field. Results and conclusion:  The time until the temperature in the pulp cavity reached 55.0°C was 328 ± 26 s (mean ± s.d., n  = 8) in the 56 mg as Fe ml −1 of DM concentration. The temperature in the pulp cavity could be maintained at 53.5–59.0°C for 1200 s by changing the magnetic field intensity safely, while temperature elevations of the dental surface on the coronal and apical sides were 4.9° and 3.7°C, respectively. Thus, this inductive heating system, which has the possibility of selective heating, might be useful for eliminating residues of pulp as a new ablation therapy.