K. Aanderudlarsen et al., LASER-DOPPLER FLOWMETRY IN THE ASSESSMENT OF TOOTH VITALITY AFTER LEFORT-I OSTEOTOMY, Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery, 23(6), 1995, pp. 391-395
The aim of the present study was to evaluate pulp vitality in 15 patie
nts, 11 to 29 months after a Le Fort I osteotomy. Assessment of pulpal
blood flow was obtained by means of laser Doppler flowmetry, and it w
as measured bilaterally from the first maxillary premolar to the centr
al incisor. The results were compared with those obtained by electric
pulp testing in the same teeth. In addition, periodontal ligament perc
eption was evaluated by applying axial loads to the central incisors.
Radiographs were also studied. Fourteen subjects served as a control g
roup. There was no significant difference between the level of pulpal
blood flow in the teeth of the operated group compared with the contro
l group. Twenty-one per cent of the teeth in the group operated on wer
e insensitive to electric pulp testing, and in the remaining 79% the m
ean threshold was significantly higher than in the corresponding teeth
in the control subjects. Similarly, the axial load threshold for the
incisors for the control subjects was below 5 g, but in the group oper
ated on 66% had a threshold above 5 g. These experiments clearly demon
strate that teeth without normal innervation can have an intact blood
supply and be vital.