Comparison of carbon dioxide versus refrigerant spray to determine pulpal responsiveness.
There is little evidence for which cold delivery method is most accurate in determining pulp responsiveness. This study compared carbon dioxide dry ice sticks (CO2) versus refrigerant spray (RS) to generate a patient response from different types of teeth restored to varying degrees. Fifteen human patients were selected. In each quadrant, three teeth were identified and the restoration type recorded. Blindfolded patients were randomly tested with either CO2 or RS in a crossover design at two different sessions. Responsiveness was recorded as yes/no and the interval (in seconds) from application to response was determined. Results showed that (a) CO2 and RS were equivalent in producing a pulpal response regardless of tooth and presence of restoration, and (b) CO2 took significantly (p < 0.05) longer to evoke a response than RS using paired t tests. In conclusion, RS and CO2 were equivalent in determining pulpal responsiveness, but the elicited response from RS was faster.
University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City 52242-1001, USA.
Vincent R
VR
Jones
Eric M
EM
Rivera
Richard E
RE
Walton
D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003791:Dental Pulp Test / Q000379:methods*; D004367:Dry Ice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004980:Ethane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005466:Fluorocarbons
D004367:Dry Ice; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; C063006:norflurane; D004980:Ethane; D005466:Fluorocarbons