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Objective : It has been stated that blood pigments within discolored teeth may interfere with Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) measurements. The aim of this study was to assess pulp vitality with LDF in a cohort of discolored traumatized teeth referred for endodontic treatment or where the referring dentist had doubts regarding maintained tooth vitality. Background: Discoloration of teeth is a common sequel of dental trauma. Still today, it is taken as an indicator for root canal treatment. Transient apical breakdown (TAB) is confused with apical periodontitis, although it is a sequel of dental trauma in young mature teeth and will result in revascularization and dissolution of the apical radiolucency. Methods: A total of 26 patients with 28 discolored teeth, belonging to a cohort of referred patients with traumatized teeth referred for root canal treatment and/or pulp vitality assessment were screened on color with photographs by three investigators, with traditional sensibility tests and with a Moor VMS II LDF meter. Results: The color of the intrinsically discolored teeth was grayish in 58% of teeth, blue 20%, pink/crimson 12%, and yellow 4%. Eighty-five percent were central maxillary incisors, 11% were mandibulary incisors. Thanks to LDF, 43% of the trauma cases in this small cohort with discoloration underwent root canal treatment instead of 70% with traditional sensibility tests as indicator. TAB was found in 11%. Conclusions: LDF was decisive in diagnosing vitality of discolored teeth and there was no negative impact of tooth discoloration on LDF measurements.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of full-arch digital impressions when compared to conventional impressions, when performed on the abutment or implant level., Methods: One resin cast with six implants and another cast with six abutments were scanned with Primescan v5.1 (PS51), Primescan v5.2 (PS52), Trios 3 (T3), and Trios 4 (T4). Additionally, conventional impressions (A) were made, poured in gypsum, and digitized using a lab scanner (IScan D104i). A coordinate machine (Atos, GOM, Braunschweig, Germany) was used to generate the reference scan of both casts. For all scans, the position of the implants was calculated and matched with the reference scan. Angular and coronal measurements per implant were considered for trueness and precision., Results: For the implant-level model, PS52 performed significantly better in terms of trueness and precision compared to all other impressions, except for the angular trueness of A ( p = 0.072) and the coronal trueness of PS51 ( p = 1.000). For the abutment-level model, PS52 also performed significantly better than all other impressions, except for the coronal trueness and precision of A ( p = 1.000)., Conclusions: Digital impressions for full-arch implant supported prostheses can be as accurate as conventional impressions, depending on the intra-oral scanner and software. Overall, abutment level impressions were more accurate compared to implant level impressions.

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, electrical pulp test) in combination with X-ray are commonly promoted. However these tests are arbitrary, based on sensations and therefore not always reliable. In such situation the registration of 'real' pulpal blood flow and hence pulp vitality will be more than an added value. The most studied and well documented method is laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) as it is non invasive, direct and objective. In this article we describe blood flow, LDF and its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of this method and the newest developments regarding LDF. Despite a low implementation of LDF in Belgium, this technique proved to belong indisputable to the basic assets of a dental clinic. A number of cases are described to demonstrate the efficacy and added value of LDF in assessing tooth vitality.

Since the development of the ruby laser by Maiman in 1960 and the application of the laser for endodontics by Weichman in 1971, a variety of lasers with a wide range of characteristics are now being used in endodontic therapy. In the past two decades much experience and knowledge has been gained The first purpose of the present paper is to provide an understanding of the essential physical science behind laser technology and information on the effects of laser beams on tissue (tissue interaction). A second purpose is to summarize laser applications in endodontics, including their use in pulp diagnosis, dentinal hypersensitivity, pulp capping and pulpotomy, modification of the root canal walls, sterilization of the root canal system, cleaning--shaping--obturation of the root canal, and endodontic surgery. It will be clear that a number of endodontic procedures with conventional treatments cannot provide comparable results or are less effective.

The reliability of laser Doppler flowmetry in a 2-probe assessment of pulpal blood flow is well known. The purpose of this case report was to determine its use as an exclusive and reliable tool for tooth vitality diagnosis in a long-term follow-up. As a result of a traumatic injury to a 24-years old Caucasian female, tooth pulp vitality was studied in 6 maxillary front teeth over 30 weeks through use of 2-probe laser Doppler flowmetry and current sensitivity tests. A similar assessment was repeated after 228 weeks. Confronted with an alveolar bone fracture with a tooth in the fracture line, one intrusion and several luxated teeth, current sensitivity tests are found not to be so reliable indicators of revascularisation as significant results are given later (7 weeks) compared to laser Doppler flowmetry tests (1 week). A pathway with ischaemia (3 weeks), hyperaemia (7 weeks) and restored blood supply in the pulp measured by laser Doppler flowmetry tests was found and avoided endodontic treatment. Teeth vascularisation evolved normally (228 weeks). Despite a high indication in all sensitivity tests for endodontic treatment, the use of laser Doppler flowmetry tests was clear, more reliable than sensitivity tests and exclusive as denervation was postponed and pulp vascularisation was evident.

The reliability of laser Doppler flowmetry in a two-probe assessment of pulpal blood flow is well known. The purpose of this case report was to determine its use as an exclusive and reliable tool for tooth vitality diagnosis in a long-term follow-up. As a result of a traumatic injury to a 24-year-old Caucasian female, tooth pulp vitality was studied in six maxillary front teeth over 30 weeks using two-probe laser Doppler flowmetry and current sensitivity tests. A similar assessment was repeated after 228 weeks. Confronted with an alveolar bone fracture with a tooth in the fracture line, one intrusion and several luxated teeth, current sensitivity tests are found not to be as reliable indicators of revascularisation, as significant results are obtained later (7 weeks) than using laser Doppler flowmetry tests (1 week). A pathway with ischaemia (3 weeks), hyperaemia (7 weeks) and restored blood supply in the pulp measured by laser Doppler flowmetry tests was found and avoided endodontic treatment. Teeth vascularisation evolved normally (228 weeks). Despite a strong indication in all sensitivity tests for endodontic treatment, the use of laser Doppler flowmetry tests was clear, more reliable than sensitivity tests and exclusive, as denervation was postponed and pulp vascularisation evident.

Objective: The reliability of using 2 probes with laser Doppler signals when adjacent teeth are being measured simultaneously to determine pulpal blood flow is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether 2 probes are more reliable than 1 in a single-tool assessment., Study Design: Tooth pulp vitality was studied in 19 adults through use of laser Doppler flowmetry tests. In each subject, testing was carried out on 2 successive occasions with 2 probes positioned on the maxillary central incisors., Results: Significant mean differences of 31% for blood flux and 96% for concentration were found between the 2 probes, although they shared equal coefficients of variation. The reproducibility for each probe was found to be consistent, and the probes were highly correlated with each other. Flux and concentration, however, were not systematically correlated., Conclusions: Simultaneous measurements with 2 probes were clearly more reliable. The necessity for a calibration control was evident.