Validity of Applied Endodontic Diagnostic Tests for Undergraduate Students of a Chilean University

Atala León Arriagada; Karla Agüero Saldivia; Luis Bustos & Scarlette Hernández-Vigueras

Summary

For successful endodontic treatment a correct diagnosis for pulp diseases is essential. Controversy exists regarding the validity of diagnostic methods commonly used in daily practice by the dentist to determine the condition of the pulp state. The aim of this study was to determine the validity of two thermal tests (cold and heat stimuli) most commonly used by undergraduates students in patients in patients treated in endodontic dental clinic. Cross-sectional study was performed in 49 patients (54 teeth) who needed endodontics treatment, and meeting the criteria of this study. Sensitivity to cold and heat test was 75.9% and the combined test (hot and cold) was 69%. The specificity for the cold test was 80%, for the heat test was 76%, and for the combined test 84%. The cold or heat test alone, shows more sensitivity than the combination. However, higher specificity was achieved by combining both tests.

KEY WORDS: pulp diagnosis, dental pulp test, sensitivity, specificity, thermal test.

How to cite this article

LEÓN, A. A.; AGÜERO, S. K.; BUSTOS, L. & HERNÁNDEZ-VIGUERAS, S. Validity of applied endodontic diagnostic tests for undergraduate students of a Chilean university. Int. J. Odontostomat., 9(3):457-462, 2015.