Heat Transfer in Teeth

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the thermal resistance between food and teeth during mastication processes and the drinking of beverages. It was found that the assumption of negligible resistance between food and teeth overestimates greatly the resulting temperature gradients. Also, heat transfer coefficients (reciprocal thermal resistance) during drinking and mastication are below 7.0 X 10 ^-2 calorie/cm² second°C.