title: Evaluation of pulpal blood flow changes in primary molars with physiological root resorption by laser Doppler flowmetry and pulse oximetry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to undertake a comprehensive quantitative investigation ofpulpal bloodflow (PBF) changes in human non-carious primary molar teeth with variable degrees of root resorption by Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and Pulse Oximetry (PO) methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected from clinically and radiographically healthy 86 mandibular primary molars which have different physiological root resorption levels (PRRLs). PRRLs for each of the teeth were assessed using periapical radiographs and teeth were subdivided into three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LDF values demonstrated a significant diference (p = 0.0001) between all groups although PO did not demonstrate any difference (p = 0.109). Statistical analysis of LDF values demonstrated significant differences between Groups A and C (p = 0.0001) and Groups B and C (p = 0.008). Furthermore, positive correlations were determined between LDF values and PRRL groups (p = 0.0001) and patients' ages (p = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, it was observed that the PBF values of human primary molars measured by LDF tended to increase with the progress of physiological root resorption and age. LDF was found to be a more effective method than PO to assess the pulpal vascularity changes of human primary molars.
authors.affiliation: Akdeniz University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pedodontics, Antalya, Turkey. dthkarayilmaz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karayilmaz
authors.forename: Zuhal
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kirzioğlu
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000098:blood supply; D010092:Oximetry; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014080:Tooth Exfoliation; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000098:blood supply*