ADJUNCTIVE AIDS FOR EXAMINING

TEETH AND RESTORATIONS

PERI APICAL TESTS
to assess the health and disease of the
periapical area
 PERCUSSION TEST
 PALPATION
 PERCUSSION TEST
Tapping teeth with end of mirror handle.
+ve i.e. tenderness suggests injury to periodontal membrane
from pulpal or periodontal inflammation
 PALPATION
by rubbing index finger over the mucosa
overlying the apex of tooth.
+ve i.e. tenderness suggests
periapical pathosis. Non tender
swelling may also be felt.
VITALITY TESTS

 THERMAL TESTS
 ELECTRICAL TEST
 THERMAL TESTS
COLD TEST
AGENTS :
ethyl chloride,
ice stick,
freezing agent
(C02 snow – 78o c, fridgident),
cold water
HOT TEST
AGENTS : GP stick, rubber cup, hot burnisher, hot
compound, hot water
INTERPRETATION :

HEALTHY PULP sensation gone within few seconds

after removal of stimulus
HYPERAEMIA / REVERSIBLE PULPITIS pain lasting
less than 30 secs
IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS intense pain of longer
duration
NECROSED PULP lack of response
 ELECTRIC TESTS
ELECTRIC PULP TESTER a small electric current is delivered to the tooth
PULP VITAL tingling sensation
PULP NON VITAL no response
IMPORTANT FOR THERMAL AND ELECTRIC
TESTS
 Teeth to be tested should be clean and dry
 Start from control teeth proceed to suspected
teeth and then again to control teeth
 Stimuli similar to those that provoke pain
( from the history) in teeth are used
 KEEP IN MIND FALSE POSITIVE AND FALSE
NEGATIVE FINDINGS
 TEST CAVITY

Done as a last resort when

other tests have failed .
Specifically for
teeth having large restorations
Drilling at slow speed without
water coolant and anesthesia
INTERPRETATION
NON VITAL no response
 ANESTHAESIA TEST
Restricted to pts. in pain
at time of test.
When usual tests have failed
to identify the culprit tooth.
OBJECTIVE
to anaesthetize a single
tooth at a time until pain
disappears localizing
the specific tooth
STUDY CASTS
Are helpful in providing the understanding of
Occlusal relationship, treatment plan,
educating pt., plane of occ., tilted extruded
teeth, cross bites, coronal contours, proximal
contacts