title: Assessment of oxygen saturation in dental pulp of permanent teeth with periodontal disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In individuals with periodontal disease, dental pulp status should be determined before a treatment plan is made. Pulse oximeters are promising diagnostic tools to evaluate pulp vascularization. This study used pulse oximetry to determine the level of oxygen saturation in dental pulp of intact permanent teeth with periodontal attachment loss (PAL) and gingival recession (GR) and to evaluate the correlation between periodontal disease and level of oxygen saturation in the pulp.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 67 anterior teeth of 35 patients; all teeth showed intact crowns, PAL, a periodontal pocket (PP), and GR. The teeth underwent periodontal examination, cold and electric pulp testing, and pulse oximetry measurements. The Pearson correlation coefficient and a linear regression coefficient were calculated to evaluate the degree of correlation between periodontal disease markers (PAL, PP, and GR) and the level of oxygen saturation in dental pulp. These tests also evaluated possible associations between oxygen saturation and cold and electric pulp testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PAL, PP, and GR had negative correlations with oxygen saturation in dental pulp. Conversely, no statistically significant association was found between oxygen saturation in dental pulp and the response to electric sensibility testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxygen saturation was lower in the pulp of permanent teeth with PAL, PP, and GR, indicating that periodontal disease correlates with the level of oxygen saturation in the pulp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Bergesch
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Giovanella
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: fbarletta@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Fernando Branco
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Barletta
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wilson Tadeu
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Felippe
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Paulista, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kely Firmino
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatologic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Helena Gonçalves
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: de Alencar
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatologic Sciences, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Estrela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000378:metabolism; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Dental pulp; periodontal disease; pulp abnormalities; pulse oximeter