Pulpal Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis of the pulpal status is key to the success of vital pulp treatment. The ideal pulpal diagnostic test(s) should be able to stage pulpal inflammation accurately, ideally identifying the threshold between pulp tissue that can be saved and tissue that cannot. This chapter entails the limitations and current protocols in arriving at an accurate pulpal diagnosis, which include obtaining pain history, clinical examination, pulp sensibility/sensitivity testing and direct observation of the pulp tissue. Dental pulp substrates that are being explored for diagnostic purposes as well as exploratory biomarkers of pulpal inflammation are also discussed.