Rocording of Cat's Dental Afferents Responses in inflamed teeth

Methods: Thirteen cats were used in this experimental study. Each experiment consisted two distinct phases: in the first phase, inflammation was induced in the canine tooth in one side and in the second phase, after stimulating the tooth, the nerve responses reaching to the oscilloscope through recording electrodes were recorded and the neurograms were printed. Finally neurograms were compared regarding latency time, nerve fiber potential speed, and the range or impact of neurograms.

Results: The response of different nervous afferent was recorded with oscilloscope by voltage inceremental increase. In most of the cases, the responses of two different groups of neurons were recorded in both normal and inflamed sites (G1, G2). The summary of finding is found in table1.As it is seen, the mean potential speed of both G1 and G2 groups are significantly lower in inflamed site rather than the normal site. On the other hand, the maximum range of responses was significantly higher in inflamed rather than normal site.

Regarding the effectiveness of lidocaine application, we noted a remarkable resistance to impulse inhibition in inflamed cases, while we achieved impulse inhibition in all normal cases after anesthetic application.

Conclusions: Significant changes are seen in the electrophysiological features and the nerve responses of afferent fibers between a normal and inflamed dental pulp enhancing the assumption of presence of peripheral mechanisms for this problem.

Table 1 : summary of finding