Preparation

Tooth preparation is often an overlooked procedure in dentistry today due to time constraints and recent advances in dental luting agents. However, tooth preparation remains a very integral part of reducing post cementation or post preparation hypersensitivity. Adequate chair time needs to be allotted to allow a solid and fundamentally sound preparation design (fig.1). An unhurried preparation will cause minimal overheating of the pulp and allow the clinician to use finesse while preparing the tooth.

The use of copious amounts of water is indicated throughout tooth preparation as well as a soft touch in the removal of tooth structure. Overheating of teeth during tooth preparation is a common cause of hypersensitivity and can lead to an irreversible pulpitis and the need for endodontic therapy.⁴

New burs are a great aid to the clinician when preparing teeth because there is less drag on the tooth and they will make a cleaner cut. The generation of heat is minimized with a new bur.

Drying can have an adverse effect resulting in tooth hypersensitivity. Generally, the only time that tooth structure should be dried is during evaluation of the marginal finish line, for definitive impressions, and for cementation.