Assessing Inflammatory Status of Pulp in Irreversible Pulpitis Cases with Pulse oximeter and Dental Hemogram

Objective: This study evaluated pulse oximetry and dental hemogram in teeth with the clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis (IP) to assess the inflammatory status of the pulp. Study design: The study and control groups (30n each) had teeth with IP and sound teeth respectively. Patients in the study group had night pain with or without pain on mastication (NM, N). Blood oxygen saturation (%SpO2) was recorded with a custom made pulse oximeter (CPO). For dental and peripheral hemogram, smears were made for each patient from the first drop of blood while entering the pulp and finger blood respectively. Results: Control group had mean %SpO2 in finger 91% (86-97); and in teeth 84% (80-91), while the study group had mean %SpO2 in finger 92% (88-98) and in teeth 83% (71-94). Fifty percent of IP cases were vital while no tooth showed necrosis according to CPO which was further confirmed by bleeding status from the pulp. Based on the findings of the clinical diagnosis, %SpO2 and bleeding status of IP and normal cases, the terminology as coronal or total pulpitis seems more appropriate. The statistical difference was significant in fingers while non-significant in teeth of IP and normal pulp cases. Dental hemogram of IP cases showed an overall significant fall of neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil and monocyte counts compared to normal. Conclusion: Pulse oximetry was the most accurate pulp test to diagnose vitality in normal as well as inflamed pulps while hemogram was inconclusive for the same.