title: Predictive values of thermal and electrical dental pulp tests: a clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For a diagnostic test to be useful, it is necessary to determine the probability that the test will provide the correct diagnosis. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the predictive value of diagnostics. The aim of the present study was to identify the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and reproducibility of thermal and electrical tests of pulp sensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The thermal tests studied were the 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane (cold) and hot gutta-percha (hot) tests. For the electrical test, the Analytic Technology Pulp Tester (Analytic Technology, Redmond, WA) was used. A total of 110 teeth were tested: 60 teeth with vital pulp and 50 teeth with necrotic pulps (disease prevalence of 45%). The ideal standard was established by direct pulp inspection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivities of the diagnostic tests were 0.88 for the cold test, 0.86 for the heat test, and 0.76 for the electrical test, and the specificity was 1.0 for all 3 tests. The negative predictive value was 0.90 for the cold test, 0.89 for the heat test, and 0.83 for the electrical test, and the positive predictive value was 1.0 for all 3 tests. The highest accuracy (0.94) and reproducibility (0.88) were observed for the cold test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cold test was the most accurate method for diagnostic testing.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, The Master's Degree in Dental Science with Specialization in Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosi University, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Villa-Chávez
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patiño-Marín
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loyola-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Norma V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Zavala-Alonso
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Martínez-Castañón
authors.forename: Carlo E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Medina-Solís
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000502:physiology; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003791:Dental Pulp Test / Q000145:classification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D055815:Young Adult; D004980:Ethane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005466:Fluorocarbons
chemical_list: D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; C063006:norflurane; D004980:Ethane; D005466:Fluorocarbons
keywords: Electrical dental pulp test; predictive values; thermal dental pulp tests