RESUMO
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 initial-boundary conditions (the axiallysymmetrical 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 tooth domain considered) can help dentists in the selection of an appropriate method of treatment.
