LASER-DOPPLER FLOWMETRY IN THE ASSESSMENT OF TOOTH VITALITY AFTER LEFORT-I OSTEOTOMY

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.