Laser Doppler flowmetry

An early determination of pulpal vitality is crucial with respect to a correct differential diagnosis of revascularisation or necrosis and its treatment. The use of sensibility tests (cold, heat, electric pulp test) in combination with X-ray is commonly promoted. However, these tests are arbitrary, based on sensations, and therefore not always reliable. In such situation, registration of pulpal blood flow will be more than an added value. The most studied and well-documented method for registration of pulpal blood flow is laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), a non-invasive technique with direct and objective registrations. In this chapter, we describe pulpal blood flow, LDF and its characteristics, this method’s advantages and disadvantages and recent developments regarding LDF. Despite a low implementation of LDF in dentistry, this technique has proven to be an indisputable, basic asset of a dental clinic