Using Laser-Doppler Flowmetry to Evaluate the Therapeutic Response in Dentin Hypersensitivity

Mariana Miron, Diana Lungeanu, Edmond Ciora, Emilia Ogodescu and Carmen Todea
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Mariana Miron: Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Dental Emergencies, Faculty of Dentistry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Diana Lungeanu: Center for Modeling Biological Systems and Data Analysis, Department of Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Edmond Ciora: Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Dental Emergencies, Faculty of Dentistry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Emilia Ogodescu: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Carmen Todea: Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Dental Emergencies, Faculty of Dentistry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a common medical condition with underreported prevalence and it is difficult to quantify. This study aimed to investigate whether assessing dental pulp vascular micro-dynamics by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) would be functional for therapeutic evaluation, in contrast to a verbal rating scale (VRS). A split-mouth single-blind randomized study was conducted on seven patients and a total of 36 teeth. Two DH therapeutic methods were employed: (i) fluoride gel; (ii) Nd:YAG radiation combined with fluoride gel. For each tooth, five consecutive LDF determinations of pulp blood flow were made (before and immediately after desensitizing treatment, then after 24 h, 7 days, and 1 month), and the VRS was applied each time. Spearman’s correlation was applied for concurrent validation. Two-way (treatment and patient) repeated measures ANOVA full factorial was applied, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc comparisons and Pillai’s trace multivariate statistic. While VRS scores had moderate reliability, LDF could objectively estimate treatment effects. Based on partial eta-squared values, treatment and patient characteristics were estimated to explain about 84% and 50% of the variability, respectively. In conclusion, LDF is an objective technique that can quantitatively assess DH evolution, and it is effective in reliably monitoring oral health therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: dentin hypersensitivity; microcirculation; laser Doppler flowmetry; therapeutic research; outcome assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8787-:d:451789

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