Are AMALGAM and CEMENT two examples of thermal conductivity in dentistry?
Answer Hi Ana No, thermal conductivity is a concept or property of material, not the material itself. Much the same as sugar is sweet, materials can be thermally conductive or not – as example. Because amalgam is composed of many metallic elements that are thermally conductive, amalgam would be considered a material with high thermal conductivity. Dental cement, used as a liner or base under restorations, would be a material with low thermal conductivity, where is acts as an insulator or protective barrier between the restoration and the deeper more sensitive parts of the tooth – especially when near the pulp.
