2022 Volume 43 Issue 2 Pages 91-97
The microcirculatory system of the dental pulp plays an essential role in the maintenance of homeostasis. Transmitted-light plethysmography (TLP) is a non-invasive and objective diagnostic method for detecting blood circulation in the dental pulp, and has been clinically used as a pulp vitality test in pediatric and special-needs dentistry. As the dental pulp is encased in mineralized tissues, LED light sources with shorter wavelengths at visible regions are suitable for detecting minute blood flow changes due to high absorbance by hemoglobin. This review summarizes the role of blood flow measurements using the TLP method for the diagnosis of dental pulp, and findings relevant to microcirculation in the developmental stages of young permanent teeth.
