Determination of the Influence of Chronic Periodontitis on Pulp Sensibility by Means of Electric and Thermal Cold Testing

• Published in: Journal of endodontics Vol. 43; no. 11; pp. 1802 - 1805
• Main Authors: Neves, Vanessa C.Q., Toledo, Benedicto E.C., Camargo, Gabriela A.C.G., Souza, Alessandra A., Zuza, Elizangela P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-11-2017
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alveolar Bone Loss - complications; Alveolar Bone Loss - diagnostic imaging; Chronic periodontitis; Chronic Periodontitis - complications; Cold Temperature - adverse effects; dental pulp; Dental Pulp - innervation; Dental Pulp - physiology; Dentin Sensitivity - etiology; Dentistry; Electric Stimulation - adverse effects; endodontics; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography, Dental; Severity of Illness Index; endodontics; Chronic periodontitis; dental pulp
• ISSN: 0099-2399; 1878-3554
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2017.07.006

Communication between pulp and periodontal tissue has been well established. However, it is unknown when periodontal disease begins to affect the clinical response of pulp tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of periodontal severity on pulp sensibility by means of electric and thermal cold testing.
The teeth assessed in this study were allocated into 3 groups considering radiographic alveolar bone loss (ABL) as follows: slight periodontitis (SP, ABL ≤7 mm without reaching the apex, n = 25), moderate periodontitis (ABL >7 mm without reaching the apex, n = 23), and severe periodontitis (SvP, ABL >7 reaching the apex, n = 8). Gingival recession (GR), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were also measured.
The results showed higher levels of PD and CAL in the SvP group compared with the SP group (P < .05), with no significant difference in GR (P > .05). The SvP group showed significant ABL compared with the other groups (P > .05). The SP group showed a significant number of teeth with a positive pulp response, whereas the SvP group showed a significant number of teeth with a negative pulp response (P < .05); no significant differences were observed between the thermal cold and electric tests (P > .05).
Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that pulp clinical involvement with a negative response to thermal cold and electric testing occurs only in the most advanced stage of chronic periodontitis with apical involvement.