Accuracy of the American Association of Endodontists diagnostic criteria for assessing pulp health in primary teeth.

OBJECTIVES: There is a lack of studies evaluating the accuracy of the 2009 American Association of Endodontists (AAE) diagnostic criteria for diagnosing pulpal health in primary teeth. This study aimed to estimate and correlate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical diagnosis of reversible and irreversible pulpitis using the 2009 AAE criteria with histological findings in primary teeth. METHODS: Eighty primary teeth that were clinically diagnosed with normal pulp (n = 10), reversible pulpitis (n = 30), irreversible pulpitis (n = 30) and pulp necrosis (n = 10) were collected. The teeth were histo-processed, and pulp tissues were diagnosed histologically as uninflamed pulp, reversible or irreversibly inflamed and necrosis based on previously proposed criteria. RESULTS: The clinical diagnosis of pulp necrosis (sensitivity 70%, specificity 96%) and normal pulp (sensitivity 91%, specificity 100%) matched the histological diagnosis of necrosis and uninflamed pulp in 70% and 100%, respectively. The clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis (sensitivity 64%, specificity 72%) matched the histological diagnosis of irreversible pulp inflammation for 47% of teeth evaluated. For the clinical diagnosis of reversible pulpitis (sensitivity: 65%, specificity: 86%), 80% matched the histological diagnosis of reversible pulp inflammation. Teeth with histologically diagnosed irreversible pulp inflammation were more likely to have lingering (OR 5.08; 95% CI 1.48-17.46, P = 0.010) and nocturnal tooth pain (OR 15.86; 95% CI 1.57-160.47, P = 0.019) when compared to teeth with reversible pulp inflammation. Using the classification and regression tree model, the presence of widened periodontal ligament space and nocturnal tooth pain were useful predictors of irreversible pulp inflammation with an accuracy of 78%. CONCLUSION: The 2009 AAE criteria was acceptable for primary teeth with pulp necrosis and normal pulp but poor for reversible pulpitis and irreversible pulpitis.

Influence of cone beam computed tomography on endodontic treatment planning: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate how treatment plans changed when cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging was used in endodontic treatment decision-making. DATA: Studies examining changes in clinicians' treatment plans with and without the use of CBCT were included. Risk of bias assessment was completed using a modification of the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool. SOURCES: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane databases from inception to 14 September 2021. STUDY SELECTION: The initial search identified 3379 titles and abstracts; 20 articles fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria for full text review. An additional three articles were identified through citation searching. Sixteen studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria for data extraction and analysis. Fifteen studies reported changes in treatment plan with CBCT imaging. Five studies reported changes in 45 - 66.7% of the cases but did not mention specific treatment options. Of the 11 remaining studies, 10 studies reported changes in 24.3 - 56% of cases and changes in treatment options, while one study reported no significant change in treatment plan after CBCT imaging was introduced. With CBCT imaging, clinicians were more likely to prescribe further intervention that included endodontic treatment and extractions. CONCLUSION: Although the current evidence was heterogeneous, it was clear that CBCT offered more information than periapical radiography. This influenced endodontic treatment decision-making and in more complex cases, led to further intervention including non-surgical and surgical endodontic treatment and extractions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Additional information from CBCT imaging influenced endodontic treatment decision-making in the following situations: high difficulty cases, diagnosis of symptomatic teeth after failed root canal treatment, evaluation of periapical healing, pre-surgical treatment planning, and management of traumatised immature teeth and external cervical resorption.