Laser Doppler flowmetry for assessment of anterior mandibular teeth in conjunction with bone harvesting in the symphysis: a clinical pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the pulp sensitivity and vitality of mandibular incisors and canines before and after bone harvesting in the symphysis.


METHODS
In 20 patients requiring bone grafts from the symphysis, pulp sensitivity (carbon dioxide [CO2]) and pulpal blood flow (laser Doppler flowmetry [LDF]) of mandibular incisors and canines were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and 6 months after surgery. Teeth were allocated to 1 of 3 groups according to their initial and final reaction to CO2 (group A = teeth with a positive reaction throughout the study, group B = teeth that exhibited a sensitivity change from positive to negative, and group C = teeth with a negative reaction throughout the study).


RESULTS
Preoperative flux measurements (LDF) did not differ between groups A, B, and C. Teeth with sensitivity changes (group B) showed the greatest decrease (a statistically significant decrease) of pulpal blood flow over time, whereas teeth in groups A and C demonstrated an insignificant reduction of flux over time.


CONCLUSIONS
LDF was purely used as an experimental tool in the present study. Pulpal blood flow measurements using LDF demonstrated a decrease of flux over time in anterior mandibular teeth following bone harvesting in the symphysis. A significant change of flux, however, was only observed for teeth that also demonstrated a loss of pulp sensitivity during the same study period. Loss of pulp sensitivity appeared to be correlated to a significant decrease of blood flow assessed by LDF.
von Arx
Thomas
T
Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland. thomas.vonarx@zmk.unibe.ch
Chappuis
Vivianne
V
Winzap-Kälin
Carmen
C
Bornstein
Michael M
MM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002680:Chin / Q000601:surgery*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide