Pulpal and root sensitivity rated to periodontal therapy

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Periodontology
• Dental Research

Background:

• Periodontal disease necessitates treatments that may impact tooth sensitivity.
• Understanding the effects of interventions like scaling, root planing, and surgery on pulpal and root sensitivity is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of periodontal treatment (scaling, root planing, surgery) on pulpal and root sensitivity.
• To assess the reliability of electric pulp testing in evaluating pulpal sensitivity post-treatment.

Main Methods:

• Clinical investigation involving 10 patients and 84 observations (42 treated, 42 control teeth).
• Sensitivity evaluated using electric pulp testing, cold stimuli, and air stimuli.
• Correlation analysis between periodontal treatment extent, root exposure, and sensitivity.

Main Results:

• Electric pulp testing proved reliable for assessing pulpal sensitivity.
• Neither the degree of periodontal destruction nor the extent of treatment affected pulp sensitivity.
• Scaling and root planing showed no significant impact on root sensitivity.
• Periodontal surgery correlated with increased root sensitivity, particularly with greater root surface exposure.
• Post-surgery plaque accumulation was associated with heightened root sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• Periodontal treatment, excluding surgery, does not significantly alter pulpal or root sensitivity.
• Periodontal surgery can lead to increased root sensitivity due to root surface exposure and potential plaque accumulation.
• Electric pulp testing is a reliable method for assessing pulpal sensitivity in periodontal patients.