Blood flow changes in human dental pulps when capsaicin is applied to the adjacent gingival mucosa.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes occur in pulpal blood flow when capsaicin is applied to the adjacent gingival or alveolar mucosa in human beings. STUDY DESIGN: Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure changes in pulpal blood flow (PBF) after applying capsaicin to adjacent gingival mucosa in 20 human volunteers. The procedure was repeated on 10 subjects after administration of an ipsilateral inferior alveolar nerve block and on the other 10 subjects after application of topical anesthetic to their adjacent gingival and alveolar mucosa. RESULTS: PBF increased in 16 subjects and did not change in 4 subjects after capsaicin application. Ipsilateral inferior alveolar nerve block did not alter this effect. Pretreatment with topical lidocaine resulted in no change or decreased PBF in 8 subjects and increased PBF in 2 subjects. CONCLUSION: Changes occur in the PBF of the mandibular canine teeth of some humans when capsaicin is applied to the adjacent gingival or alveolar mucosa.