Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice

Background and Objective: Although medical pulse oximeters are considered effective for endodontic diagnoses, the method remains uncommon in current dental practice. The aim of the present scoping review was to investigate clinical factors that exert a negative impact on the use of pulse oximeters i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rafaela Hartmann Kasper, Mabiéli Rabelo Coelho, Sergio Augusto Quevedo Miguens-Jr, Renata Grazziotin-Soares, Fernando Branco Barletta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-02-01
Series:Saudi Dental Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905223002304
_version_ 1827346878795087872
author Rafaela Hartmann Kasper
Mabiéli Rabelo Coelho
Sergio Augusto Quevedo Miguens-Jr
Renata Grazziotin-Soares
Fernando Branco Barletta
author_facet Rafaela Hartmann Kasper
Mabiéli Rabelo Coelho
Sergio Augusto Quevedo Miguens-Jr
Renata Grazziotin-Soares
Fernando Branco Barletta
author_sort Rafaela Hartmann Kasper
collection DOAJ
description Background and Objective: Although medical pulse oximeters are considered effective for endodontic diagnoses, the method remains uncommon in current dental practice. The aim of the present scoping review was to investigate clinical factors that exert a negative impact on the use of pulse oximeters in dental practice. Methods: This study followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the protocol was prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3GQCE). A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed in December 2022 for articles published in English or Spanish. All types of clinical studies were included, except comments, letters to the editor, and abstracts. Two independent investigators analyzed 45 full-text articles. Data extraction included general characteristics, oxygen saturation levels, and limiting factors/barriers to the use of oximeters as pulp testers. Results: The search of the databases yielded 1,300 records and 38 were included (quantitative data extraction was performed for 35 and three articles were systematic reviews). Publications were highest in number between 2016 and 2017, with an evident reduction occurring after 2021. The oxygen saturation level for sound/vital maxillary anterior teeth was 84.99% (overall mean). The main limiting factors/barriers were i) the difficulty in maintaining the two light-emitting diodes parallel during pulp tests, ii) infrared light diffraction by enamel/dentin/gingiva, and iii) the diversity of patient ages in studies. Conclusion: This scoping review encountered noteworthy findings associated with the impracticability of using medical pulse oximeters as dental pulp testers. The recent decrease in the frequency of published studies compared to approximately seven years ago may imply a negative trend in the use of the method.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T23:39:10Z
format Article
id doaj.art-418aa2fe24ab4b498331896b01ed48f4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1013-9052
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T23:39:10Z
publishDate 2024-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Saudi Dental Journal
spelling doaj.art-418aa2fe24ab4b498331896b01ed48f42024-02-20T04:18:35ZengElsevierSaudi Dental Journal1013-90522024-02-01362262269Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practiceRafaela Hartmann Kasper0Mabiéli Rabelo Coelho1Sergio Augusto Quevedo Miguens-Jr2Renata Grazziotin-Soares3Fernando Branco Barletta4Program in Endodontics, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, BrazilProgram in Stomatology, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, BrazilProgram in Stomatology, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, BrazilEndodontics Division, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada; Corresponding author at: Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia (UBC), 320-2151 Wesbrook Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, BC, Canada.Program in Endodontics, Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, BrazilBackground and Objective: Although medical pulse oximeters are considered effective for endodontic diagnoses, the method remains uncommon in current dental practice. The aim of the present scoping review was to investigate clinical factors that exert a negative impact on the use of pulse oximeters in dental practice. Methods: This study followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the protocol was prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3GQCE). A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed in December 2022 for articles published in English or Spanish. All types of clinical studies were included, except comments, letters to the editor, and abstracts. Two independent investigators analyzed 45 full-text articles. Data extraction included general characteristics, oxygen saturation levels, and limiting factors/barriers to the use of oximeters as pulp testers. Results: The search of the databases yielded 1,300 records and 38 were included (quantitative data extraction was performed for 35 and three articles were systematic reviews). Publications were highest in number between 2016 and 2017, with an evident reduction occurring after 2021. The oxygen saturation level for sound/vital maxillary anterior teeth was 84.99% (overall mean). The main limiting factors/barriers were i) the difficulty in maintaining the two light-emitting diodes parallel during pulp tests, ii) infrared light diffraction by enamel/dentin/gingiva, and iii) the diversity of patient ages in studies. Conclusion: This scoping review encountered noteworthy findings associated with the impracticability of using medical pulse oximeters as dental pulp testers. The recent decrease in the frequency of published studies compared to approximately seven years ago may imply a negative trend in the use of the method.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905223002304Dental PulpPulse OximetryPulp DiagnosisScoping Review
spellingShingle Rafaela Hartmann Kasper
Mabiéli Rabelo Coelho
Sergio Augusto Quevedo Miguens-Jr
Renata Grazziotin-Soares
Fernando Branco Barletta
Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice
Saudi Dental Journal
Dental Pulp
Pulse Oximetry
Pulp Diagnosis
Scoping Review
title Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice
title_full Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice
title_fullStr Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice
title_full_unstemmed Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice
title_short Pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test: A scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice
title_sort pulse oximetry as a dental pulp test a scoping review to identify barriers hindering the use of oximeters in clinical practice
topic Dental Pulp
Pulse Oximetry
Pulp Diagnosis
Scoping Review
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1013905223002304
work_keys_str_mv AT rafaelahartmannkasper pulseoximetryasadentalpulptestascopingreviewtoidentifybarriershinderingtheuseofoximetersinclinicalpractice
AT mabielirabelocoelho pulseoximetryasadentalpulptestascopingreviewtoidentifybarriershinderingtheuseofoximetersinclinicalpractice
AT sergioaugustoquevedomiguensjr pulseoximetryasadentalpulptestascopingreviewtoidentifybarriershinderingtheuseofoximetersinclinicalpractice
AT renatagrazziotinsoares pulseoximetryasadentalpulptestascopingreviewtoidentifybarriershinderingtheuseofoximetersinclinicalpractice
AT fernandobrancobarletta pulseoximetryasadentalpulptestascopingreviewtoidentifybarriershinderingtheuseofoximetersinclinicalpractice