Laser Doppler flowmetry for monitoring traumatized teeth

Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) has been shown to be valuable in monitoring r evascularization of immature incisors following severe dental trauma. Sever al investigators have demonstrated the ability of LDF to record blood flow signals from vital tooth pulps. In this case report, LDF was used for a 7-y ear-old child patient following a severe luxation of tooth #9. During follo wup examinations the traumatized tooth was unresponsive to traditional vita lity testing during the first 6 months; however, LDF indicated that revascu larization had occurred much sooner. Until recently, CO2 ice has been the m ost effective method for sensitivity testing in trauma cases such as presen ted here. In this case, LDF gave us the assurance that we could defer invas ive care during a critical time period when root canal therapy might have b een initiated for this child patient.