A Clinical Evaluation Of The Electric Pulp Tester As An Indicator Of Analgesia In Cases Of Chronic Irreversible Pulpitis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v26i2.784Keywords:
..........Abstract
Profound local anesthesia is essential for pain-free endodontic treatment. Conventional indicators such as lip numbness and soft tissue anesthesia are subjective and often unreliable, particularly in cases of chronic irreversible pulpitis.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Electric Pulp Tester (EPT) as an objective indicator of pulpal analgesia prior to endodontic procedures in mandibular first molars diagnosed with chronic irreversible pulpitis.
Materials and Methods: Sixty patients requiring endodontic treatment of mandibular first molars were evaluated using an electric pulp tester before and after administration of inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia. Pain experienced during access cavity preparation was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Results: Despite all patients exhibiting soft tissue signs of anesthesia, 25% experienced severe pain during access preparation. Post-injection EPT responses showed a statistically significant correlation with intraoperative pain (p < 0.002).
Conclusion: The Electric Pulp Tester is a reliable and objective tool for predicting pulpal anesthesia and identifying potential anesthetic failure in cases of chronic irreversible pulpitis.
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