Pulp vitality tests - an overview on comparison of sensitivity and vitality

Pulp vitality testing is only one facet of oral diagnosis, which is crucial in monitoring the health of the dental pulp. A pain response to hot, cold, or an electric pulp tester indicates the vitality of only a tooth's pulpal sensory supply. Although the sensitivity of these traditional tests is high, the response does not give any idea about the state of the pulp. They often yield false-negative and false-positive response. The newer pulp testing considers the vascular supply is more important to determine the health of the pulp than the sensory supply. Hence, pulp testing has been always an 'overvalued' and 'underused' diagnostic aid. This article attempts to give a comprehensive view of all the tests based on sensitivity as well as vitality.