Pulse Oximetry and Electric Pulp Test in Intact Teeth and Teeth with Hyperaemia Pulpae

The pulp hyperaemia is associated with increased blood flow in the pulp. Diagnosis of this condition is very important for the outcome of a dental treatment. There are new methods, which can detect the pulp blood flow. Such method, gaining increasing popularity nowadays, is pulse oximetry. In this study, intact teeth and teeth with diagnosis of hyperaemia pulpae are examined by pulse oximeter and electric pulp test. The results show that the threshold of irritation is decreased in teeth with hyperemia, and the saturation of the pulp is increased by 12.34% in frontal teeth and 7.27% in distal teeth. There is a statistically significant difference (p < 0,05) in the values measured with pulse oximeter in the intact frontal and distal teeth and the teeth with hyperemia. Pulse oximetry can detect changes in pulp microcirculation in state of hyperemia. It is an extremely valuable method for early, objective diagnosis of pulp blood flow, as well as for its monitoring in dynamics.