CLINICAL PRECONDITIONS AND TREATMENT MODALITY - EFFECTS ON PULP SURGERY OUTCOME

Background: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the factors a ffecting the outcome of localized laser pulp surgery in the canine mod el. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Pulpal exposures 2 mm and 5 mm in diameter were prepared in eight healthy teeth in each of five dogs . The total of 40 teeth were left open to infection from the oral cavi ty for 3 hours or 72 hours; 2-3 mm of surface pulpal tissue were then removed using a fresh diamond bur or a CO2 laser emitting @ 9.3 mu m, at 3.5 W average power in the Superpulse mode. Teeth were monitored cl inically and radiographically by one blinded, pre-standardized clinici an for 3 months. Results: Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact test (a-t ail) results associated laser treatment with significantly better clin ical and radiographic outcome (P < 0.001). Using regression analysis, duration of pulpal exposure to contamination by the oral environment w as identified as primary determinant for treatment outcome within the laser-treated and control groups (P = 0.0018). Conclusion: Clinical pr econditions significantly affect the outcome of pulp surgery treatment s. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.