The Effect of Exercise on Pulpal and Gingival Blood Flow in Physically Active and Inactive Subjects as Assessed by Laser Doppler

The effects of exercise on pulpal and gingival blood flow are undefined. The autonomic nervous system response suggests that they could increase or decrease with exercise, and they may be independent of each other. This study attempts to answer these questions

A Diagnostic Accuracy Study of Laser Doppler Flowmetry for the Assessment of Pulpal Status in Children's Permanent Incisor Teeth

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess whether laser Doppler flowmetry is more accurate than the conventional pulp sensibility tests (electric pulp test and ethyl chloride) in assessing the pulpal status of permanent anterior teeth in children and to identify the laser Doppler flowmetry’s Flux cut-off threshold. Methods: A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study with randomization was performed and included 74 participants (8- to 16-year-old children). Participants had 1 maxillary central or lateral incisor with either a completed root canal treatment or an extirpated pulp and a contralateral tooth with vital pulp. Outcome measures included the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values as well as the repeatability of all tests. Results: A significant difference between the Flux values for teeth with vital and non-vital pulps was found. The cut-off ratio for laser Doppler flowmetry was 0.6, yielding a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 33%, which were lower than the values of the electric pulp test (sensitivity = 83.8%–94.6% and specificity = 89.2%–97.6%) and ethyl chloride (sensitivity = 81.1%–91.9% and specificity = 73%–81.1%). The repeatability of laser Doppler flowmetry, electric pulp testing, and ethyl chloride were 0.85, 0.86, and 0.81, respectively. Conclusions: Laser Doppler flowmetry was unable to differentiate between teeth with vital and non-vital pulps. The results of this study showed that there was a high probability for false results. Further development of laser Doppler flowmetry in assessing pulpal blood flow would be required before it could be recommended for clinical use, especially in children

Surfing the spectrum - what is on the horizon?

Diagnostic imaging techniques have evolved with technological advancements - but how far? The objective of this article was to explore the electromagnetic spectrum to find imaging techniques which may deliver diagnostic information of equal, or improved, standing to conventional radiographs and to explore any developments within radiography which may yield improved diagnostic data. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Medline, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and PubMed Databases. Boolean Operators were used and key-terms included (not exclusively): terahertz, X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infra-red, magnetic resonance, dental, diagnostic, caries and periodontal. Radiographic techniques are primarily used for diagnostic imaging in dentistry, and continued developments in X-ray imaging include: phase contrast, darkfield and spectral imaging. Other modalities have potential application, for example, terahertz, laser doppler and optical techniques, but require further development. In particular, infra-red imaging has regenerated interest with caries detection in vitro, due to improved quality and accessibility of cameras. Non-ionising imaging techniques, for example, infra-red, are becoming more commensurate with traditional radiographic techniques for caries detection. Nevertheless, X-rays continue to be the leading diagnostic image for dentists, with improved diagnostic potential for lower radiation dose becoming a reality