Evaluation of the ability of laser Doppler flowmetry for the assessment of pulp vitality in general dental practice

Objectives. In this study we investigated pulpal blood flow (PBF) values and moving blood cell velocity (MBCV) curves recorded by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) for pulpal vitality diagnosis in general dental practice and to compare MBCV curves to standard diagnostic tests in traumatology. Study design. LDF tests performed with the PeriFlux System 5000 were applied to vital and nonvital (endodontic treatment) teeth of healthy students (n = 52) and on 24 luxated teeth of patients. Results. The PBF values were not reproducible and no statistically significant differences were observed between vital and nonvital teeth. MBCV curves in contrast could distinguish between the 2 tooth types. Tests on luxated teeth showed that while 62.5% of MBCV curves correlated with conventional vitality tests, only 12.5% of MBCV curves could help in vital diagnosis. Conclusion. When applied to luxated teeth, the MBCV curve appeared to be accurate when the standard vitality tests indicated a nonvital diagnosis. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2008;106:615-20)