THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I RESEARCH PROGRAM IS TOESTABLISH THE FEASIBILITY OF OPERATING IN A DRY DENTAL FIELD, USING A SELF-COOLED DRILL WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE A WATER SPRAY.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I RESEARCH PROGRAM IS TOESTABLISH THE FEASIBILITY OF OPERATING IN A DRY DENTAL FIELD, USING A SELF-COOLED DRILL WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE A WATER SPRAY. SPECIFIC AIMS ARE TO SHOW THAT A SELF-COOLED DRILL CAN BE DESIGNED TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ACCEPTED DENTAL OPERATIVE PRACTICE, AND THAT USE OF THE DRILL WILL NOT CAUSE EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES AND CONSEQUENT DAMAGE TO TOOTH TISSUE. THESE GOALS ARE TO BE ACHIEVED BY: (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF OPERATIVE, THERMAL, AND TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR CONDUCTING THE PROPOSED EFFORT, THROUGH A LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONSULTATION WITH PRACTICING DENTAL CLINICIANS. (2) HEAT TRANSFER AND STRUCTURAL STUDIES TO DETERMINE DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SELF-COOLED DENTAL DRILL. (3) STUDIES OF TEMPERATURE RESPONSE IN PULPAL TISSUE DURING CAVITY PREPARATION WITH THE SELF-COOLED DENTAL DRILL. (4) DEFINITION OF PHASE II PLAN FOR EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF CONCEPT FEASIBILITY AND COMPATIBILITY WITH CURRENT DENTAL OPERATIVE PRACTICE.