title: Oxygen saturation in the dental pulp of permanent teeth: a critical review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method for assessing vascular health based on oxygen saturation level. The method has recently also been used to assess dental pulp vitality, but a median oxygen saturation level suggestive of normal pulp physiology has not been determined. The objective of this study was to make a critical analysis of the published research to establish the median oxygen saturation for the diagnosis of normal dental pulps in maxillary anterior permanent teeth using pulse oximetry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies reporting on the use of pulse oximeters to determine oxygen saturation in dental pulps were retrieved using the MEDLINE, Scientific Electronic Library Online, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases plus a manual search of relevant references cited by selected articles. Different combinations of the terms "oximetry," "oximeter," "pulp," "dental," and "dentistry" were used in the search. Statistical analysis was performed for each group of teeth (central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines) using R statistical software (US EPA ORD NHEERL, Corvallis, OR) and a random effects model (P < .0001) with an I(2) of 99%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 295 articles found, only 6 met the inclusion criteria (472 teeth). Of these, the number of articles included in each analysis (according to tooth group) was as follows: all 6 studies (288 teeth) for central incisors at a median oxygen saturation of 87.73%, 3 studies (90 teeth) for lateral incisors at a median oxygen saturation of 87.24%, and 4 studies (94 teeth) for canines at a median oxygen saturation of 87.26%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The median oxygen saturation in normal dental pulps of permanent central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines was higher than 87%.
authors: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Paulista, Goiânia, Goias, Brazil.
authors: Kely Firmino
authors: KF
authors: Bruno
authors: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Luterana do Brazil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: fbarletta@terra.com.br.
authors: Fernando Branco
authors: FB
authors: Barletta
authors: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: Wilson Tadeu
authors: WT
authors: Felippe
authors: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goias, Brazil.
authors: Júlio Almeida
authors: JA
authors: Silva
authors: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goias, Brazil.
authors: Ana Helena
authors: AH
authors: Gonçalves de Alencar
authors: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goias, Brazil.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Estrela
mesh_terms: D003481:Cuspid / Q000098:blood supply; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000098:blood supply; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Dental pulp; dentistry; diagnosis; oximetry