[Complex electrical resistance of teeth and its role in electrical sensitivity testing].

The objective: Was to study the effect of complex electrical resistance of teeth on the electrical sensitivity testing values.

Material and methods: The study of complex electrical resistance during electrical sensitivity testing was carried out in 70 patients aged 18 to 57 years. Males made up 48.6% and females 51.4%. A total of 254 teeth were examined. All the examined teeth had mature roots; 65 teeth were intact, 52 had previously been treated for caries, 38 teeth had dentine caries, 33 were diagnosed with pulpitis, 21 with periodontitis, 45 teeth had previously undergone endodontic treatment.

Results: The main contribution to the complex electrical resistance during electrical sensitivity testing is made by the condition of the hard tissues of the teeth. In intact teeth, the impedance modulus was 3148±236.8. In the teeth where caries was treated, the impedance modulus was 2675±327.4 kOhm. In case of caries, i.e. when the active electrode was placed on the dentine of the tooth during the study, the module of complex electrical resistance decreased to 852±445.3 kOhm. The lowest values of the impedance modulus were in cases when the active electrode was located at the bottom of the tooth cavity, in the mouths of the root canals of teeth that had not previously undergone endodontic treatment, with pulpitis and periodontitis. Its values were 294±121.5 kOhm. In teeth with previously sealed root canals, the complex electrical resistance was 1253±297.8 kOhm.

Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the module of complex electrical resistance, and, consequently, the electrical conductivity of tooth tissues during electrical sensitivity testing, can be in a wide range. These circumstances should be considered when choosing a technique for conducting electrical sensitivity testing in specific clinical situations.