title: Evaluation of efficacy of a new custom-made pulse oximeter dental probe in comparison with the electrical and thermal tests for assessing pulp vitality.
abstract: Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method of measuring vascular health by evaluating oxygen saturation. This study evaluated the efficacy of a new custom-made pulse oximeter dental probe in comparison with the electrical and thermal tests for assessing pulp vitality. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value for each test were calculated by comparing the test results with the actual pulpal status, as evaluated by direct visual inspection. The sensitivity of the pulse oximeter was found to be 1.00, as compared to 0.81 with the cold test and 0.71 with the electrical test. The specificity of the pulse oximeter was 0.95, as compared to 0.92 with the cold and electrical pulp tests. Thus, the custom-made pulse oximeter dental probe is an effective, accurate, and objective method of evaluating pulp vitality.
authors: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai 600 095, India. hi_gopikrishna@hotmail.com
authors: Velayutham
authors: V
authors: Gopikrishna
authors: Kush
authors: K
authors: Tinagupta
authors: Deivanayagam
authors: D
authors: Kandaswamy
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000502:physiology*; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003791:Dental Pulp Test / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method