Gleanings on the Origins of Electric Pulp Testing.

Abstract

Attempts to develop a test for pulp vitality has had a somewhat convoluted history, as the concept of 'vitality' has been the pivotal focus of interpretation, misinterpretation, and empirical dogma, especially when using electrical stimulation. Some researchers attempted histological correlations while others focused exclusively on radiographic correlations to validate electrical methods of pulp testing. Some the early literature rightfully focused on the concept of sensibility (a contemporary term in common usage) instead of vitality. This article will purposefully focus on some of the early thought processes of our forefathers as they attempted to arrive a full-proof method to assess the status of the often-compromised dental pulp.