A Study on the Diagnosis of the Dentine Bridge after Pulpotomy in the Primary Teeth with the Measurement of Electrical Resistance using a Caries Meter

Abstract

From the clinical point of view, it is important to protect the pulp of primary teeth.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the electrical resistance measured with the caries meter after pulpotomy (through the application of calcium hydroxide) and the X-ray findings.
17 primary anterior teeth and 25 primary molars were examined in children from the age of 2 to 6.
The results were as follows;
1) According to radiographic diagnosis of the dentine bridge after pulpotomy, there were some cases (28.6%) where the dentine bridge was formed one monthe after the pulpotomy, though in most cases (51.1 %) it was formed 3 months afterwards.
2) Electric resistance was apt to increase by degrees until 7 months after the pulpotomy, however the increase became more gentle there after. It was found that it took 5 months or more after the pulpotomy to obtain a comparatively high electric resistance(over 12.0 kΩ).
3) In most of the cases where by radiographic diagnosis it was determined that the dentine bridge formed in less than 3 months after the pulpotomy, the low electrical resistance(less than 10.5kΩ)indicated that the dentine bridge was still in a formative state. Assessement of the dentine bridge formation on the basis of radiographic diagnosis alone therefore appears to be of limited accuracy.