[Laser Doppler flowmetry for vitality testing of traumatized maxillary incisors].

Pulp sensitivity and vitality changes were evaluated in 69 traumatized maxillary incisors and in 38 control teeth during a follow-up period of 20 months. Examinations included thermal testing using carbon dioxide snow (CO2) and the laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). These measurements were compared to the clinical and radiological findings. In 47.8% of the traumatized teeth and in 55.3% of the control group the three LDF measurements corresponded with the sensitivity testing using CO2 and with the clinical and radiological findings. In 31.9% of the traumatized teeth and in 7.9% of the control group the LDF-measurements differed from the CO2-measurements, but were in agreement with the other clinical and radiographic findings. The information obtained by laser Doppler flowmetry is of additional importance for the treatment planning. Since the clinical examination of traumatized teeth is sometimes inconclusive, the laser Doppler flowmetry is a further diagnostic tool but it cannot replace the radiological or clinical examination.