Pulse oximetry: a diagnostic instrument in pulpal vitality testing

One hundred children with normal maxillary central and lateral incisors were subjected to vitality tests each by electrical and pulse oximetry. As a control population to confirm the readings, 10 known nonvital anterior teeth with complete endodontic fillings were tested. The systemic oxygen saturation values measured on the index finger of the patient served as the control for the comparison of the oxygen saturation values measure on the teeth. The SaO2 values obtained on the teeth were correlated with the electrical test readings. The correlation between the SaO2 readings and electrical testing readings were found to be negative i.e. as the values of the electrical pulp testing reading increased, the SaO2 values decreased. Since a reproducible SaO2 level is obtainable on the vital teeth, pulse oximetry has immediate clinical value in providing base line vitality data for the traumatised teeth.