Related Experiment Videos
Use of dental instruments for bridging during electric pulp testing.
E A Pantera1, R W Anderson, C T Pantera
1School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
Journal of Endodontics
|January 11, 1992
Summary
Dental explorers and endodontic files can reliably bridge the gap for electric pulp testing in teeth with extensive restorations. This method enhances the effectiveness of electric pulp testing when direct contact is challenging.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Dental Diagnostics
Background:
- Extensive dental restorations can impede accurate electric pulp testing.
- Bridging instruments may offer a solution for testing vital teeth with restorations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of using dental instruments as bridging instruments for electric pulp testing.
- To determine if dental explorers and endodontic files can facilitate reliable pulp testing in teeth with extensive restorations.
Main Methods:
- A clinical investigation involving 117 vital teeth and 10 control teeth (endodontically treated).
- Baseline electric pulp testing (EPT) recordings were taken.
- Dental explorers and endodontic files were used as bridging instruments between the EPT probe and the tooth surface.
- Threshold responses were recorded using the bridging technique.
Main Results:
- Electrically conductive dental instruments effectively bridged the gap for EPT.
- The use of dental explorers and endodontic files proved reliable for facilitating EPT.
- The procedure allowed for reliable threshold response recordings.
Conclusions:
- Dental instruments, such as explorers and endodontic files, can be reliably used as bridging instruments for electric pulp testing.
- This technique is effective in facilitating EPT for teeth with extensive restorations.
- The findings support the clinical utility of this bridging method in dental diagnostics.