title: Pulp sensibility test in elderly patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ageing process transforms the histological composition of the dental pulp and may affect the response to pulp sensibility tests.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the influence of age on pulp response time and on pain intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty elderly patients and 50 young patients were selected. Different classes of teeth were evaluated. The pulp sensibility test was performed with a refrigerant spray. The pulp response time was measured in seconds and the pain intensity was assessed by visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Spearman coefficient was calculated and detect a positive correlation between age and pulp response time for maxillary incisors, premolars, mandibular incisors, and mean (p < 0.05). On the contrary, there was a negative correlation between age and pain intensity for maxillary incisors, mandibular incisors, and mean (p < 0.05). Also, the results of elderly and young groups were compared by Mann-Whitney test. Significant difference was noted regarding the pulp response time for maxillary incisors, premolars, mandibular incisors, and mean (p < 0.05). Significant difference was detected regarding the pain intensity for mandibular incisors only (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulp response time increases when people get older while pain intensity decreases. There were variations among the classes of teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Dentistry, School of Professional Education, São Paulo State Dental Association (APCD), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Vieira
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Farac
authors.forename: Renata Dornelles
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Morgental
authors.forename: Regina Karla de Pontes
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tiberio
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000502:physiology*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult