Comparison of the reliability of laser Doppler flowmetry, pulse oximetry and electric pulp tester in assessing the pulp vitality of human teeth

Dental pulp testing is a useful and essential diagnostic aid in endodontics. Pulp sensibility tests include thermal and electric tests, which extrapolate pulp health from sensory response. Whilst pulp sensibility tests are the most commonly used in clinical practice, they are not without limitations and shortcomings. Pulp vitality tests attempt to examine the presence of pulp blood flow, as this is viewed as a better measure of true health than sensibility. Laser Doppler flowmetry and pulse oximetry are examples of vitality tests. Whilst the prospect is promising, there are still many practical issues that need to be addressed before vitality tests can replace sensibility tests as the standard clinical pulp diagnostic test. With all pulp tests, the results need to be carefully interpreted and closely scrutinised as false results can lead to misdiagnosis which can then lead to incorrect, inappropriate, or unnecessary treatment.

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Efficacy of Laser Doppler Flowmetry, as a Diagnostic Tool in Assessing Pulp Vitality of Traumatised Teeth. A Split Mouth Clinical Study

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11080801 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 801

Author(s):

Ani Belcheva ◽

Maria Shindova ◽

Reem Hanna

Keyword(s):

Laser Doppler Flowmetry ◽

Test Group ◽

Laser Doppler ◽

Permanent Teeth ◽

Control Group ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Doppler Flowmetry ◽

Registration Number ◽

Pulp Vitality ◽

And Control

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in determining the changes in the pulpal blood flow (PBF) during post-traumatic period of the traumatised permanent teeth. Methods: 88 teeth of 44 patients (mean age 10.30 ± 2.38) were recruited according to the eligibility criteria and divided into two groups: test group (44 traumatised teeth) and control group (44 sound and healthy teeth). The measurement of PBF was performed, using a LDF monitor. Results: The analysis of the LDF outcomes in function of diagnosis indicated that the measurements of the traumatised teeth were significantly higher than those of non-traumatised teeth (p ˂ 0.05). Conclusions: LDF application provides dentists with fundamental benefits in terms of an early and precise investigation of PBF. In addition, LDF is a useful monitoring tool for revascularization of traumatised teeth and reliable objective diagnostic indicator of pulp vitality. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration number: NCT04967456).

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Laser Doppler flowmetry and pulse oximetry seem to have high accuracy in detecting vital and nonvital teeth and perform better than cold, heat, and electric pulp testing

The Journal of the American Dental Association ◽

10.1016/j.adaj.2018.05.019 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 149 (11) ◽

pp. e152

Author(s):

Romina Brignardello-Petersen

Keyword(s):

Pulse Oximetry ◽

Laser Doppler Flowmetry ◽

High Accuracy ◽

Laser Doppler ◽

Doppler Flowmetry ◽

Better Than

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Effect of probe design on the suitability of laser Doppler flowmetry in vitality testing of human teeth

Dental Traumatology ◽

10.1111/j.1600-9657.1993.tb00662.x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 65-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

AEgir Rafn Ingolfsson ◽

Leif Tronstad ◽

Elliot V. Hersh ◽

Charles E. Riva

Keyword(s):

Laser Doppler Flowmetry ◽

Laser Doppler ◽

Probe Design ◽

Human Teeth ◽

Doppler Flowmetry

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Vitality assessment in human teeth by laser Doppler flowmetry

10.1109/iembs.1989.96387 ◽

2003 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H. Pettersson ◽

P.A. Oberg ◽

H. Rohman ◽

B. Gazelius ◽

L. Olgart

Keyword(s):

Laser Doppler Flowmetry ◽

Laser Doppler ◽

Human Teeth ◽

Doppler Flowmetry

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Evaluation of Pulpal Blood Flow Changes in Primary Molars with Physiological Root Resorption by Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Pulse Oximetry

Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry ◽

10.17796/jcpd.36.2.3l9lgu5292r08742 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 139-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hüseyin Karayilmaz ◽

Zuhal Kirzioğlu

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Pulse Oximetry ◽

Laser Doppler Flowmetry ◽

Root Resorption ◽

Laser Doppler ◽

Primary Molars ◽

Primary Molar ◽

Doppler Flowmetry ◽

Pulpal Blood Flow ◽

Significant Difference

Aim: The aim of this study was to undertake a comprehensive quantitative investigation of pulpal blood flow (PBF) changes in human non-carious primary molar teeth with variable degrees of root resorption by Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and Pulse Oximetry (PO) methods. Materials and Methods: Data was collected from clinically and radiographically healthy 86 mandibular primary molars which have different physiological root resorption levels (PRRLs). PRRLs for each of the teeth were assessed using periapical radiographs and teeth were subdivided into three groups. Results: The LDF values demonstrated a significant difference (p = 0.0001) between all groups although PO did not demonstrate any difference (p = 0.109). Statistical analysis of LDF values demonstrated significant differences between Groups A and C (p = 0.0001) and Groups B and C (p = 0.008). Furthermore, positive correlations were determined between LDF values and PRRL groups (p = 0.0001) and patients' ages (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: In our study, it was observed that the PBF values of human primary molars measured by LDF tended to increase with the progress of physiological root resorption and age. LDF was found to be a more effective method than PO to assess the pulpal vascularity changes of human primary molars.

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