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Electric pulp testing with examination gloves.
1Division of Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Dentists can reliably use the electric pulp test (EPT) while wearing examination gloves. Patient participation in completing the circuit ensures accurate dental pulp vitality assessments, even with gloved operators.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Dental Diagnostics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- The electric pulp test (EPT) is a standard tool for evaluating dental pulp vitality.
- Concerns exist regarding the accuracy of EPT when operators wear examination gloves.
- Latex gloves may potentially interfere with electrical conductivity during EPT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of operator glove use on electric pulp testing (EPT) results.
- To determine if EPT remains diagnostically reliable when dentists wear examination gloves.
Main Methods:
- Thirty subjects (15 female, 15 male) with sound teeth participated.
- Teeth were tested using a digital electric pulp tester, with and without latex gloves worn by the operator.
- EPT readings were compared between gloved and ungloved conditions for the same teeth.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences in EPT readings were observed between gloved and ungloved conditions.
- The mean differences in EPT results were minimal and considered clinically insignificant.
- Patient involvement in completing the electrical circuit was crucial for accurate readings.
Conclusions:
- Electric pulp testing (EPT) can be accurately and reliably performed by dentists wearing examination gloves.
- Ensuring the patient holds the metallic handle of the EPT probe is key to maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
- Gloved EPT use does not compromise the clinical assessment of dental pulp vitality.