Laser Doppler flowmetry: a clinical test of pulpal vitality.

PROBLEM

A rapid, accurate, noninvasive method of determining pulpal blood flow would be helpful in determining pulpal vitality.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine if laser Doppler flowmetry can measure induced changes in pulpal blood flow.

STUDY DESIGN

Two percent lidocaine with epinephrine 1:100,000 was infiltrated into the labial vestibule to anesthetize five anterior teeth in healthy human volunteers. Stents were placed on the teeth to stabilize the laser Doppler probes. Measurements of pulpal blood flow were made along with electrocardiograms to record the cardiac cycle.

RESULTS

Laser Doppler flowmetry demonstrated pulpal blood flow and pulse amplitude decreases under test conditions. These decreases were most significant at 10 minutes after the injection of anesthetic with vasoconstrictor.

CONCLUSIONS

Laser Doppler flowmetry was able to measure pulpal blood flow and record changes in blood flow that occurred when epinephrine was used with infiltration anesthesia. The pulse width and the mean flow were dramatically affected as was synchronization with the cardiac cycle.