Study of pulp blood flow in normal adult first molars detected by laser Doppler flowmetry

Objective To explore the "clinical normal reference range" of pulpal blood flow (PBF) in the physiological state in an effort to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods According to the working principle and operational considerations of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), the PBF blood flow value of the first molars of the upper and lower mandibles of normal adults was detected by LDF, and the clinical reference value range under physiological conditions was analyzed and calculated. The differences in PBF values by sex, dental position and location (left and right side, upper and lower jaw) were analyzed. Results A total of 200 normal adult participants with an average age of (22.76 ± 3.26) years were included. The cohort included 95 males and 105 females, with a total of 800 first molars. Neither the PBF values of the left and right first molars nor the PBF values of the upper and lower first molars in males or females significantly differed (P>0.05). The PBF value for females was higher than that of males. Specifically, the clinical reference PBF values for males and females were (8.56 ± 3.25) PU and (9.51 ± 3.47) PU, respectively. Conclusion The PBF values of normal adult first molars in healthy subjects were higher in females than in males, and in the PBF values of first molars of the same sex did not significantly differ between the left side and right side or upper and lower jaw; these values could be used as a reference for the selection of control teeth.