In vitro measurements were made of the heat transferred to the pulp chamber during the direct fabrication of extracoronal provisional restorations. The temperature was monitored for the following four groups: (1) control - the provisional restoration was left on the tooth with no coolant used; (2) removal - the provisional restoration was removed upon initial resin polymerization; (3) in situ - the provisional restoration was left in place and cooled with an air/water spray; and (4) on/off - the provisional restoration was repeatedly removed and replaced upon initial polymerization while using an air/water spray. The intrapulpal temperature rises were as follows: control 7.08 degrees C, removal 2.39 degrees C, in situ 2.36 degrees C, and on/off 3.12 degrees C. The temperature rise for all cooling techniques was significantly lower than that of the control. No significant differences were found between the three cooling techniques.