Clinical Application of Pulp Tests
- Dental pulp tests are valuable techniques used in dentistry to establish the pulpal health status of a tooth.
- The diagnostic information obtained from pulpal testing is used alongside a patient's history, clinical and radiographic findings to determine a diagnosis and prognosis.
- Pulp tests are useful for diagnosing endodontic pathology.
- They can help localize tooth pain.
- Pulp tests aid in differentiating between odontogenic and non-odontogenic pain.

Sensitivity Testing
- Sensitivity tests assess the sensory response of a tooth to external stimuli.
- Sensory stimuli like heat, cold, or electrical current are applied to the tooth to stimulate the nocireceptors within the pulp.
- Sensibility testing is based on Brännström's hydrodynamic theory.
- The type of sensory fibers activated determines the response felt by the patient.
- Sensitivity testing can indirectly determine the pulpal health status.

Responses to Sensitivity Testing
- A normal response to sensitivity testing indicates a healthy pulp.
- A heightened or prolonged response suggests pulpal inflammation.
- Pronounced pain that subsides indicates reversible pulpitis, while lingering pain indicates irreversible pulpitis.
- Lack of response suggests diminished nerve supply, such as in pulpal necrosis or previously root-treated canals.
- Sensitivity testing results require careful interpretation in clinical practice.

Types of Sensitivity Tests
- Thermal tests involve applying hot or cold stimuli to the tooth.
- Cold testing is commonly done using products with varying melting points, such as household ice or refrigerant sprays.
- Heat tests use heated instruments or gutta-percha.
- Electric pulp testing generates an action potential in the pulp's Type Aδ fibers using an electrical current.
- Anaesthesia testing is used when other sensitivity tests are inconclusive.

Limitations of Sensitivity Testing
- Sensitivity tests only indicate the presence or absence of the nerve supply to a tooth.
- Prolonged response indicates pulpal inflammation but not its degree.
- False positive results can occur due to innervation of adjacent teeth or in anxious patients.
- False negative results can occur in recently traumatised teeth or teeth with incomplete root canal treatment.
- Sensitivity test results should be interpreted by an experienced dentist considering clinical symptoms and radiography.