Diagnostic procedures for evaluating pulpally involved teeth.

Pulpal and periapical problems are often difficult to diagnose because of seemingly conflicting or unclear symptoms. This difficulty increases when there is an emergency situation, and improper diagnosis can lead to improper treatment, causing distress to both the patient and clinician. Because the histopathologic condition of the pulp cannot be determined with clinical means or other diagnostic data, the clinician should focus on making an accurate clinical diagnosis using the patient's history and description of pain, clinical examination, and various diagnostic tests. This review discusses these factors and stresses the importance of making an accurate diagnosis.