• 전기학회논문지
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• 제61권8호
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• pp.1204-1209
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• 2012

To diagnose dental pulp vitality, electric pulp tester has been widely used, which is a method to test condition of nerve. However, especially in the case of patients with trauma, nerve desensitization could temporarily occur even though nerve might be recovered by blood flow within the pulp later, which implies that blood flow in dental pulp is also an important factor for diagnosing vitality. This paper described the development of a probe that relatively measured blood flow in dental pulp using photoplethysmography (PPG). The probe emits four different wavelength light sources including three visible and an infrared light. We tested which light source detect sensitively the blood flow in dental pulp. As a result, green light had the largest peak to peak voltage and the power spectrum among different wavelengths.

• 대한치과의사협회지
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• 제25권7호통권218호
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• pp.665-672
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• 1987

In order to study the effects of advanced periodontitis on pulps, 36 human teeth were examined histologically. In addition, a medical and dental history was elicited. The pulps were intact, uninflammed in only 9 teeth (25%) of 36 periodontally involved teeth. 27 teeth (75%) had pulps exhibiting inflammatory lesions of varing intensities. Of 27 teeth with pathological pulp tissue alterations, focal reversible pulpitis was found in 4 teeth, chronic pulpitis in 13 teeth, pulp abscess in 6 teeth, and pulp necrosis in 4 teeth. These observations appeared to indicate that teeth with dvanced periodontitis produce a high incidence of degenertion and inflammation of the pulp. Responses to electric pulp test were not found to be reliable indicators of the state of the pulp in periodontally involved teeth.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.95-102
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• 1991

The purpose of this study carried into the Electric pulp test for having knowledge of the difference of each one's stimulant threshold in normal teeth, the stimulant threshold at 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. in the same teeth, the differendce of the stimulant threshold between dental caries and normal contralateral teeth. In this study, 27 students aged between 22 and 24 years were selected from a pool of students who are sttending school of dentistry, chosun university who did not possessed dental disease like the dental caries, periodontal disease and restoration etc., and 30 outpatients who possessed dental caries(++). The obtained results were as follows : 1. The stimulant thresholds of the premolars and canine were higher than that of the incisors. 2. The stimulant thresholds of the carious teeth were lower than that normal contralateral teeth. 3. There were no difference stimulant threshold at 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.464-469
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• 2011

Introduction: As dental implant surgery is becoming increasingly popular, it has become one of the causes for the hypesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve, along with other surgical procedures, such as a third molar extraction. In addition, it tends to cause legal problems between the operator and patient. Therefore, there must be a proper method that is reliable, objective and economical to assess the nerve impairment. For this reason, an attempt was made to use an Electric Pulp Tester to assess inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were tested. Electric pulp testing of the lower jaw skin was performed at the three different times, before anesthesia, at the onset of sensory changes and after 15 minutes waiting from the onset, and on the 10 points of the chin, which produced 10 sections on the skin area. Results: Twenty seven patients (90%) could feel the electric stimulus on the chin at all 10 points before local anesthesia and the scores represent the statistical differences between the right and left points except R4 and L4. After anesthesia, the difference between the right and left points (L3-R3, L4-R4, L5-R5) increased significantly with time but two points (L2, R2) showed no significant difference. The scores on the left chin (L3, L4, L5) increased, whereas the other points (R1-R5, L1, L2) showed no significant differences. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential clinical use of an electric pulp tester for an assessment of inferior alveolar nerve impairment.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.311-319
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• 2005

In order to examine the effects of advanced periodontitis on the dental pulps, 38 extracted human teeth were examined histologically. The 38 teeth had a positive or negative state in the electric pulp test(EPT). In addition, almost of the 38 teeth had a deep pocket and severe mobility, and floating state. A medical and dental history was elicited. The extracted teeth fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution. The general tissue processing method was followed. The tissue block including the teeth was prepared for optical microscopy using hematoxillin-eosin staining. Among the 38 periodontally involved teeth, the dental pulps were respectively intact in 12(31%), and a pulp stone(or linear calcifications) was found in 18 teeeth(47%). In addition, 17 teeth(44%) had pulps exhibiting inflammatory reactions with varying intensities, such as hyperemia, pulp abscess, pulp necrosis. Among the 38 periodontally involved teeth, 37 teeth tested a positive to the EPT, and 7 teeth tested negative. The EPT positive 37 teeth had various histological features such as 7 normal pulp(18%), 17 pulp stone(44%), 1 hyperemia (2%), 9 pulpitis(23%), 5 root resorption(13%), 3 pulp abscess(7%), and 3 pulp necrosis(7%), In conclusion, it is suggested that in the EPT positive teeth, advanced periodontally involved teeth can cause inflammation of the dental pulp.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.296-299
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• 1998

After orthognathic surgery, postoperative complications are studied by many clinician. The complications include sensory disturbance, jaw fracture, excessive bleeding, condylar positional changes and loss of pulp vitality. Few surgical procedures are as satisfying for the surgeon and patient as a well-done orthognathic surgery. On the other hand, the patient is more satisfied with the result than who are treated with only orthodontic treatment especially in severe deformity case. There are problems that patient overcome but it is not serious complications. One of these, the problem about loss of pulp vitality can't influence function but give a lot of discomfort to the patient. From September 1997 to January 1998, 7 patients who are treated for dentofacial deformity via Le Fort I osteotomy or anterior segmental osteotomy were examined pulp sensitivity using digital pulp tester. This preliminary study have a focus on the investigation of recovery of pulp vitality. The electric pulpal test were used at preoperative, postoperative, at intervals. And we report some results acquired from this study. Follwing result are obtained 1. In anterior segmental ostetomy case (1 case), total 12 teeth were examined. Postoperative 8 weeks, 1 tooth are positive reaction 2. In Le Fort I osteotomy case (6 case), total 71 teeth were examined. Postoperative 8 weeks, 5 teeth are positive reaction

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

The aim of the study was to evaluate the anesthetic Effecs of pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation to the oral mucosa and the teeth. Twenty subjects who didn't have a history of significant systemic or current oral disease were included in this study. All the subjects were divided randomly into the experimental group and the control group with 10 for each group. Pain thresholds were measured with Weighted Needle Pinprick Sensory Threshold Test for the mucosal surface of lower lip and with electric pulp test for the upper right central incisor respectively, before and immediately after pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation in the condition of 2 watt, 20pps for 2 minute at 10mm distance. The experiment was double-blinded clinical trial. The results were as follows : 1. The mean pain threshold of the mucosal surface of lower lip for Weighted Needle Pinprick Sensory Threshold Test was 2.94(1.00g for the contral group respectively, and there was no statistical difference between two groups. 2. The mean pain threshold of the mucosal surface of lower lip was significantly increased immediately after pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation. 3. The mean pain threshold of the upper right central incisor for eledtric pulp test was 34.50(4.97V in the experimental group and 34.00(13.08V in the control group respectively, and there was no statistical difference between two groups. 4. The mean pain threshold of the upper right central incisor was significantly increased immediately after pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.560-569
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• 1999

치수생활력이란 치수내의 혈관의 상태를 가리킨다. 치수생활력 측정을 위해서 사용되어져 온 온도검사나 전기치수 검사는 치수신경의 반응에 기초하여 간접적으로 치수의 생활력을 판단하는 방법이다. 따라서 치수생활력의 판단을 위해서 치수생활력의 기본인 치수혈류를 파악할 필요가 있어 laser Doppler flowmeter를 이용하여 치수 혈류를 측정하는 방법이 연구되었다. 본 연구에서는 성인치아에서 치수생활력 검사를 위해 laser Doppler flowmeter를 이용하여 치수혈류를 측정 할 경우 생활력의 판단 근거로 참고할 수 있는 정상혈류 측정치의 기초자료를 마련할 목적으로, laser Doppler flowmeter를 이용하여 성인의 상악 중절치에서부터 제1대구치에 이르기까지 각 정상 치아의 치수혈류를 측정하고, probe 고정용 splint 제작 방법 및 생활치수와 실활치수에 따른 치수혈류 측정치의 차이를 비교, 연구하였다. 22세에서 30세까지 성인 남녀 79명을 대상으로 상악 중 절치에서부터 제1대구치에 이르기까지 laser Doppler flowmeter를 사용하여 치수혈류를 측정하였고, 생활치아에 대한 비교군으로는 실활치아라고 판단되는 치아를 가진 성인 남녀 자원자 5명의 치아 13개도 함께 검사하였다. 혈류 측정 probe고정용 splint제작을 위한 고무인상시 직접법에서는 환자 구강내에서 직접 고무인상을 채득하였고, 간접법에서는 구강내에서 일차 인상을 채득하여 만든 석고모형상에서 probe 위치를 표시한 다음 석고모형상에서 이차적으로 고무인상을 채득하였다. 고무인상에서 치관부에 probe 고정을 위한 hole을 형성하고 probe를 삽입, 고정한 다음 probe를 치아 협면에 적용하였다. Laser Doppler flowmeter에서 안정된 신호가 나타날 때까지 피검자를 10분 이상 동안 안정시켰으며 안정상태 도달 후 각 치아마다 5 분간 지수혈류를 기록하였다. 측정된 치수혈류는 'Perisoft'(Perimed Co., Sweden) 프로그램을 이용하여 컴퓨터에 저장한 후 측정치를 계측하였다. 각 치아간의 실험치 평균의 차이는 일원 변량 분석법(one-way ANOVA) 및 Duncan's Multiple Range test를 이용하여 분석하였으며, 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 상악 중절치에서부터 제1대구치에 이르기까지 시험대상 전 치아에서의 치수혈류 측정치 평균은 9 - 16 Perfusion Unit 사이로 나타났는데, 상악 측절치에서 가장 높게 나타났고, 제1소구치, 제2소구치, 견치, 중절치, 제1대구치의 순으로 높게 나타났다(p<0.01). 2. 상악 6전치에서는 간접인상법으로 제작된 splint 적용군이 직접인상법으로 제작된 splint 적용군에 비해 높은 측정치를 나타내었으나(p<0.01). 소구치 및 대구치에서는 측정치에 있어서 차이를 나타내지 않았다(p>0.05) 3. 생활치아에서는 실활치아에 비해 현저히 높은 측정치를 나타내었고(p<0.01). 측정선의 양상은 심장 박동과 일치하는 파동성 및 율동성을 나타내었다.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.68-73
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• 2014

When a tooth shows discoloration and does not respond to the cold test or electric pulp test (EPT) after a traumatic injury, its diagnosis can be even more difficult due to the lack of proper diagnostic methods to evaluate its vitality. In these case reports, we hope to demonstrate that ultrasound Doppler might be successfully used to evaluate the vitality of the tooth after trauma, and help reduce unnecessary endodontic treatments. In all three of the present cases, the teeth were discolored after traumatic injuries and showed negative responses to the cold test and EPT. However, they showed distinctive vital reactions in the ultrasound Doppler test during the whole observation period. In the first case, the tooth color returned to normal, and the tooth showed a positive response to the cold test and EPT at 10 wk after the injury. In the second case, the tooth color had returned to its normal shade at 10 wk after the traumatic injury but remained insensitive to the cold test and EPT. In the third case, the discoloration was successfully treated with vital tooth bleaching.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.39-47
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• 2022

Background: This was a randomized controlled clinical trial that aimed to evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of 2% lidocaine combined with different concentrations of epinephrine (plain, 1:200,000 and 1:80,000) during endodontic treatment of maxillary molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Methods: The trial included 144 adult patients who were randomly allocated to three treatment groups. All patients received buccal-plus-palatal infiltration. After 10 min, pulp sensibility testing was performed using an electric pulp test (EPT). If a tooth responded positively, anesthesia was considered to have failed. In the case of a negative EPT response, endodontic access was initiated under rubber dam isolation. The success of anesthesia was defined as having a pain score less than 55 on the Heft Parker visual analog scale (HP VAS), which was categorized as 'no pain' or 'faint/weak/mild' pain on the HP VAS. Baseline pre-injection and post-injection maximum heart rates were recorded. The Pearson chi-square test was used to analyze the anesthetic success rates at 5% significance. Results: Plain 2% lidocaine and 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine and 1:80,000 epinephrine had anesthetic success rates of 18.75%, 72.9%, and 82.3%, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences between the groups (P < 0.001, 𝛘² = 47.5, df = 2). The maximum heart rate increase was seen with 2% lidocaine solution with epinephrine. Conclusion: Adding epinephrine to 2% lidocaine significantly improves its anesthetic success rates during the root canal treatment of maxillary molars with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.