| ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 20
| Issue : 1 | Page : 46-49 |
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Determining predictability and accuracy of thermal and electrical dental pulp tests: An in vivo study
Avinash Ramchandra Salgar, Shishir H Singh, Rajesh S Podar, Gaurav P Kulkarni, Shashank N Babel
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, TPCT's Terna Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Correspondence Address:
Avinash Ramchandra Salgar
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, TPCT's Terna Dental College and Hospital, Phase II, Sector 22, Nerul (W), Navi Mumbai - 400 706, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0972-0707.209067
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Introduction: Pulp sensitivity testing, even with its limitations and shortcomings, has been and still remains a very helpful aid in endodontic diagnosis. Pulp sensitivity tests extrapolate pulpal health from the sensory response. The aim of the present study was to identify the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (NPVs) of thermal and electrical tests of pulp sensitivity.
Materials and Methods: Pulp tests studied were two cold and heat tests respectively and electrical test. A total of 330 teeth were tested: 198 teeth with vital pulp and 132 teeth with necrotic pulps (disease prevalence of 40%). The ideal standard was established by observing bleeding within the pulp chamber.
Results: Sensitivity values of the diagnostic tests were 0.89 and 0.94 for cold test, 0.84 and 0.87 for the heat tests, and 0.75 for electrical pulp test and the specificity values of the diagnostic tests were 0.91 and 0.93 for the cold tests, 0.86 and 0.84 for the heat tests, and 0.90 for electrical pulp test. The NPVs were 0.91 and 0.96 for the cold tests, 0.89 and 0.91 for the heat tests, and 0.84 for electrical pulp test. The positive predictive values were 0.89 and 0.90 for the cold tests, 0.80 and 0.79 for the heat tests and 0.88 for electrical pulp test. The highest accuracy (0.9393) was observed with cold test (icy spray).
Conclusions: The cold test done with icy spray was the most accurate method for sensitivity testing. |
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