Skip to main content
Log in

The use of laser Doppler flowmetry in paediatric dentistry

  • Published:
European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

BACKGROUND: An early determination of pulpal vitality is crucial with respect to a correct differential diagnosis of revascularisation or necrosis and its treatment. REVIEW: Sensibility tests (cold, heat, electrical pulp test) in combination with radiographs are commonly promoted. However these tests are arbitrary, based on sensations and therefore not always reliable. In such situations registration of pulpal blood flow will be advantageous. The most studied and well documented method for registration of blood circulation is laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) which is typified as a non-invasive technique with direct and objective registrations. In this article blood flow, LDF and its characteristics, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods and the latest developments regarding LDF is described. CONCLUSION: Despite there being a low implementation of LDF in dentistry to date, this should become one of the basic techniques for clinical use in paediatric dentistry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreasen JO. Atlas of replantation and transplantation of teeth. Fribourg Mediglobe 1991. Andreasen JO, Andreasen FM, Andersson L. Textbook and Color Atlas of Traumatic Injuries to the Teeth 4th edition 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd ISBN:978-1-4051-2954.

  • Bonner RF, Nossal R. Model for laser Doppler measurements of blood flow in tissue. Appl Opt 1981;20:2097–2107.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz-Arnold AM, Wilcox LR, Arnold MA. Optical detection of pulpal blood. J Endod. 1994;20(4):164–168.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emshoff R, Kranewitter R, Norer B. Effect of Le Fort I osteotomy on maxillary tooth-type related pulpal blood-flow characteristics. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path Oral Radiol Endod 2000;89:88–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans D, Reid J, Strang R, et al. A comparison of laser Doppler flowmetry with other methods of assessing the vitality of traumatised anterior teeth. Endod Dent Traumatol 1999;15:284–290

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gazelius OB, Edwall BL, Edwall L. Non-invasive recording of blood flow in human dental pulp. Endod Dent Traumatol 1986;2:219–221.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann A, Azérad J, Boucher Y. Environmental effects on laser Doppler pulpal blood-flow measurements in man. Arch Oral Biol 1996;41:333–339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway GA, Watkins DW. Laser Doppler measurements of cutaneous blood flow. J Invest Dermatol 1977;69:306–312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jafarzadeh H, Rosenberg PA. Pulse oximetry: review of a potential aid in endodontic diagnosis. J. Endod. 2009;35(3):329–333.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jafarzadeh H. Laser Doppler flowmetry in endodontics: a review. International Endodontic Journal 2009;42;476–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Justus T, Chang BJ, Bloomquist D. Human Gingival and Pulpal Blood Flow During Healing after Le Fort I Osteotomy. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2001;59:2–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karayilmaz H, Kirzioglu Z. Comparison of the reliability of laser Doppler flowmetry, pulse oximetry and electric pulp tester in assessing the pulp vitality of human teeth. J Oral Rehab 2010 Sep 26. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2842. 010.02160.x. [Epub ahead of print].

  • Kim S, Liu M, Markowitz K, et al. Comparison of pulpal blood flow in dog canine teeth determined by the laser Doppler and the 133Xenon washout methods. Arch Oral Biol 1990;35(5):411–413.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SW, Kim SC, Nam KC, et al. A new method of screening for diabetic neuropathy using laser Doppler and photoplethysmography. Med Bio Eng Comput. 2008;46:61–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kristerson L, Lagerström L. Autotransplantation of teeth in cases with agenesis or traumatic loss of maxillary incisors. Eur J Orthod 1991;13:486–492.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kolkman RGM. Photoacoustic and pulsed-laser Doppler monitoring of blood concentration and perfusion in tissue. 1998;PhD thesis. University of Twente, The Netherlands.

  • Mesaros SV, Trope M, Maixner W, et al. Comparison of two laser Doppler systems on the measurements of blood flow of premolar teeth under different pulpal conditions. Int Endod J 1997;30:167–174.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patiño-Marín N, Martínez F, Loyola-Rodríguez JP, et al. A novel procedure for evaluating gingival perfusion status using laser-Doppler flowmetry. J Clin Periodontol. 2005 Mar;32(3):231–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petersson K, Sönderström C, Kiani-Anaraki M, et al. Evaluation of the ability of thermal and electrical test to register pulp vitality. Endod Dent Traumatol 1999).

  • Ramsay DS, Artun J, Martinen SS. Reliability of pulpal blood-flow measurements utilizing laser Doppler flowmetry. J Dent Res 1991;70(11):1427–1430.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riva C, Ross B, Bendek GB. Laser Doppler measurements of blood flow in capillary tubes and retinal arteries. Ivest. Ophtalm. 1972;11:936–944.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeykens H, Van Maele G, De Moor R, et al. Reliability of laser Doppler flowmetry in a 2-probe assessment of pulpal blood flow. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Path Oral Radiol Endod 1999;87:742–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roeykens H, Van Maele G, Martens L, et al. A two-probe laser Doppler flowmetry assessment as an exclusive diagnostic device in a long-term follow-up of traumatised teeth: a case report. Dent Traumatol 2002;18:86–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soo-ampon S, Vongsavan N, Soo-ampon M, et al. The sources of laser Doppler blood-flow signals recorded from human teeth. Arch Oral Biol 2003;48:353–360.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stern MD. In Vivo Evaluation of Microcirculation by Coherent Light Scattering. Nature. 1975;254:56–58.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Roeykens.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roeykens, H., De Moor, R. The use of laser Doppler flowmetry in paediatric dentistry. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 12, 85–89 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03262784

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03262784

Key words

Navigation