title: Laser-induced fluorescence in the diagnosis of pulp exposure and the influence of residual dentin thickness: An in vivo study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clinically (a) determine whether laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was able to assess pulp tissue health or disease in situations of pulp exposure; (b) evaluate the influence of different pulp tissue conditions upon LIF through dentin thicknesses of ≤1 mm; and (c) explore possible differences between the diagnostic performance of quantitative (q) and qualitative (ql) LIF.
  
  
  METHODS
  98 healthy subjects were scheduled for the treatment of caries. Three groups were established according to pulp tissue condition: Group A (n=30 teeth) (deep caries with healthy pulp tissue); Group B (n=30 teeth) (pulp necrosis); and Group C (n=30 teeth) (irreversible symptomatic acute pulpitis). The carious lesions were eliminated, and q and ql LIF measurements were made at two levels: measurement in dentin at < 1 mm from the pulp (A-D); and direct pulp exposure measurement (A-LP). In healthy pulp tissue at level A-LP, eight teeth with accidental pulp exposure were used. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the differences in LIF readings among the three groups. The diagnostic performance of q and ql LIF in application to pulp tissue health or disease was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and specificity of the two tests at level A-LP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was observed between acute pulpitis and an increase in the q LIF values at level A-D (P= 0.004), but with no correlation to healthy pulp. Quantitative and qualitative LIF may be useful in diagnosing pulp tissue health or disease in situations of pulp exposure (A-LP).
authors.forename: Camilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abalos
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonilla
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: San Martin
authors.forename: Asuncion
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002138:Calibration; D003116:Color; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000379:methods; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult