An in vivo evaluation of the change in the pulpal oxygen saturation after administration of preoperative anxiolytics and local anesthesia

Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice

Background and Objective

Although medical pulse oximeters are considered effective for endodontic diagnoses, the method remains uncommon in current dental practice. The aim of the present scoping review was to investigate clinical factors that exert a negative impact on the use of pulse oximeters in dental practice.

Methods

This study followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the protocol was prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3GQCE). A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed in December 2022 for articles published in English or Spanish. All types of clinical studies were included, except comments, letters to the editor, and abstracts. Two independent investigators analyzed 45 full-text articles. Data extraction included general characteristics, oxygen saturation levels, and limiting factors/barriers to the use of oximeters as pulp testers.

Results

The search of the databases yielded 1,300 records and 38 were included (quantitative data extraction was performed for 35 and three articles were systematic reviews). Publications were highest in number between 2016 and 2017, with an evident reduction occurring after 2021. The oxygen saturation level for sound/vital maxillary anterior teeth was 84.99% (overall mean). The main limiting factors/barriers were i) the difficulty in maintaining the two light-emitting diodes parallel during pulp tests, ii) infrared light diffraction by enamel/dentin/gingiva, and iii) the diversity of patient ages in studies.

Conclusion

This scoping review encountered noteworthy findings associated with the impracticability of using medical pulse oximeters as dental pulp testers. The recent decrease in the frequency of published studies compared to approximately seven years ago may imply a negative trend in the use of the method.

Epinephrine one-per-mil tumescent solution in hand surgery: Review of experimental and clinical studies

One-per-mil epinephrine solution (1:1,000,000) injected as a tumescent has been used in several hand and upper-limb surgery cases as a substitute for tourniquet. However, reviews of its effectiveness are still lacking. A comprehensive review was conducted based on PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Semantic Scholar database search of relevant studies using the keyword "one-per-mil." Studies not using the exact one-per-mil tumescent solution formula were excluded. The review of clinical studies was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Epinephrine and the hydrostatic vasocompressive effect created bloodless operative fields, with 100% experimental flap survival after ischemic insult. The technique was effective in creating bloodless operative fields in 36.3% of varied hand and upper-limb surgery cases and in fully awake surgery. Current studies show that one-per-mil tumescent solution is safe and effective, enabling use of tourniquet to be avoided.

Effect of At-Home Bleaching on Oxygen Saturation Levels in the Dental Pulp of Maxillary Central Incisors

The present study assessed oxygen saturation (SaO2) levels before, during, and after at-home bleaching treatment in the pulps of healthy maxillary central incisors. SaO2 levels were measured in 136 healthy maxillary central incisors using a pulse oximeter. The bleaching protocol consisted of 10% carbamide peroxide gel placed in individual trays and used for four hours daily for 14 days. SaO2 levels were assessed before bleaching (T0), immediately after the first session (T1), on the 7th day of treatment (T2), on the 15th day (the day following the last session) (T3), and 30 days after completion of the bleaching protocol (T4). Data were statistically analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE), Student's t test (p<0.05) and Pearson's correlation. Mean pulp SaO2 levels were 85.1% at T0, 84.9% at T1, 84.7% at T2, 84.3% at T3, and 85.0% at T4. Gradual reductions in SaO2 levels were observed, with significant differences (p<0.001) during the course of home bleaching treatment. However, 30 days after the end of the bleaching protocol, SaO2 levels returned to baseline levels. Home bleaching caused a reversible transient decrease in SaO2 levels in the pulps.

Comparative evaluation of anesthetic efficacy of warm, buffered and conventional 2% lignocaine for the success of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in mandibular primary molars: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Maintaining primary teeth in the oral cavity is of prime importance, and grossly carious teeth may require pulp therapy for the same. Pain on injection and incomplete anesthesia causes failure of the procedure and result in fear and anxiety. Various methods have evolved to overcome this; such as distraction, topical anesthesia, etc. A few techniques regaining popularity in dentistry in recent times is the warming or buffering of the solution prior to administration. This study thus aimed to compare and evaluate the anesthetic efficacy and the patient’s pain reaction to pre-warmed, buffered and conventional 2% lignocaine for the success of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in mandibular primary molars undergoing pulp therapy.

Methods: The study is a randomized, split-mouth trial. Sixty children between six -12 years, requiring pulp therapy bilaterally on mandibular primary molars, were administered conventional, buffered or pre-warmed 2% lignocaine on two separate appointments. Various parameters were assessed using objective and subjective scales.

Results: Pre-warmed and buffered anesthetics had lesser pain on injection (p<0.001, p<0.001) and pulp therapy (p=0.001, p=0.014), faster onset of action (p=0.004, p=0.001), lower SEM Sound (p=0.035, p=0.028), Eye (p< 0.001, p=0.013) and Motor (p=0.008, p=0.021) scores and shorter duration of action (p< 0.001, p=0.015). No significant difference was found between the two modified solutions. Thus pre-warmed and buffered anesthetic solutions fared better than the conventional solution for all parameters but had no advantage over each other.

Conclusion: Buffering or pre-warming the anesthetic solution reduces pain on administration and during procedures in children.

Trial registration number: CTRI/2017/02/007922