title: Effect of full crown preparation on pulpal blood flow in man.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if full crown preparation causes an increase in pulpal blood flow (PBF), indicating inflammation, in human subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiments were carried out on 35 intact, mandibular posterior teeth in 13 subjects: 32 were abutments for 16 fixed bridges that replaced first molars; the other 3 were first premolars adjacent to abutment teeth that served as un-operated controls. Crown preparations were made using an air-rotor with water-spray under regional block anaesthesia (4% articaine with epinephrine 1:100,000). PBF was recorded with a laser Doppler flow meter (LDF) before and after administering the anaesthetic, with the LDF probe on the buccal enamel. PBF was then recorded from the abutment teeth with the probe on buccal dentine after preparing the buccal surfaces of both teeth, after completing the crown preparations, and after 1 and 7days. PBF was also recorded from the buccal enamel of the control teeth on each occasion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean±S.D. PBF values before and after anaesthesia were 2.63±2.13 and 2.42±2.38P.U. respectively, which were not significantly different (Paired t-test). The mean values for the abutment teeth after buccal preparation, after complete crown preparation, and after 1 and 7days were 5.20±2.49, 4.53±2.52, 4.92±2.98 and 5.48±2.65P.U. respectively. The 4 values for each tooth were not significantly different (two-way RM ANOVA). In the control group, the values under all six conditions were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regional block anaesthesia produced no change in PBF, nor did full-crown preparation, neither immediately after the procedure nor 1 and 7days later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50202, Thailand.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sukapattee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology and Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50202, Thailand. Electronic address: sitthichai.w@cmu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Sitthichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanachantararak
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50202, Thailand.
authors.forename: Varisara
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sirimaharaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Noppakun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vongsavan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002355:Carticaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003442:Crowns; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D019246:Tooth Preparation; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D002355:Carticaine; D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: Fixed prostheses; Laser-Doppler flowmetry; Pulpal circulation; Tooth preparation