Responses of pulp sensibility tests during orthodontic treatment and retention

Abstract

Dental practitioners should interpret responses to electrical pulp testing cautiously in orthodontic patients; thermal testing may be more reliable.

Effects of conducting media and gender on an electric pulp test

“…Studies have failed to demonstrate the correlation between not only the electrical threshold and the pulpal histology (Mumford 1967b, Moody et al 1989), but also the pulpal sensory threshold and the subjective pain responses to some dental treatments such as orthodontic tooth movement (Leavitt et al 2002, Alomari et al 2011) and pain medications (Kardelis et al 2002). Despite these shortcomings with EPT, it remains a simple, inexpensive aid in pulpal diagnosis.…”

Response of Pulp Sensibility Test Is Strongly Influenced by Periodontal Attachment Loss and Gingival Recession

“…A refrigerant spray (Endo-Frost-50 C; Coltene/Whaledent, Altst€ atten, Switzerland) was applied to the middle/incisal third of the buccal surface of the selected tooth using a cotton pellet tightly wrapped around the tip of a tweezer (12). Patients were asked to rate their pain on a 0 to 10 numeric visual analog scale, with 0 representing no pain and 10 indicating the worst pain the patient has ever experienced.…”

Incidence of pulp sensibility loss of anterior teeth after paramedian insertion of orthodontic mini-implants in the anterior maxilla

“…Alomari et al [6] examined PST response using electric pulp testing (EPT) during and after orthodontic treatment. The threshold of response to PST using EPT was found to vary during but returned to pre-treatment values towards the end of the retention phase.…”

“…Various factors such as previous trauma [2], patient age [3], periodontal attachment loss [4] or medications (sedatives, tranquilizers, analgesics) [5] are known to have an influence on the response. It is known that orthodontic tooth movement can affect PST response temporarily [6], but sensibility is thought to return to normal after completion of treatment. The authors state that there is no agreement in the literature regarding potential long-term sequelae: reported pulpal responses after orthodontics included circulatory vascular stasis and necrosis [7].…”