Purpose: To measure and compare the mean temperature values due to heat generated during the grinding of different prosthetic materials with diamond burs using a high-speed instrument with and without water cooling.
Materials and methods: In total, 120 disk-shaped specimens (10 × 2 mm), each with a smaller disk in the center (3 × 2 mm), were fabricated from yttrium-stabilized zirconia, monolithic zirconia, glass-ceramic, indirect composite, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and cast metal (Ni-Cr alloy). The specimens were divided into six groups (n = 20) according to material type. The specimens in each group were ground continuously with a high-speed handpiece and diamond burs with (n = 10) and without (n = 10) water cooling until the smaller disks were removed. Two different methods (thermocouple and thermal camera) were used to measure the temperature during the grinding process. Results were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and paired samples t test (P < .05).
Results: PEEK had the lowest mean temperature values and metal had the highest values, both with and without water cooling, according to data measured with a thermocouple. Zirconia and monolithic zirconia samples without water cooling had the highest mean temperature values when measured with a thermal camera. Both with and without water cooling, composite samples had the lowest mean temperature value for thermal camera measurements.
Conclusion: Water cooling is strongly recommended when grinding all prosthetic materials. The heat transferred to the supporting teeth may depend on the thermal conductivity of the material used.