Use & Interpretation of EPT & Apex locator Flashcards
The EPT (Electric Pulp Tester) is or is not a primary or routine clinical testing instrument
IS NOT
The EPT is an _________ to Thermal Pulp Sensitivity Testing
ADJUNCT
- If we don’t get a definitive result from the thermal testing. We ADD the EPT to lead to a more conclusive DX
If you get a good result with thermal testing should you also do EPT?
NO
The EPT is an electrical device designed to…
reveal a response of nerve fibers in the pulp to the passage of a current
A response by the pulp to the electric current only denotes that…
some functioning nerve fibers are present in the pulp and capable of responding at that time; NOTHING MORE
What does a EPT reading of 20, 40, and 60 mean?
- 20 does NOT mean the pulp is more vital than a reading of 40, or 60
What is the procedure for electric pulp tester?
- DRY the teeth and ISOLATE with Cotton Rolls
- Place a small dab of tooth paste (conductor) on facial of each tooth to be tested
- Must develop BASE-LINE first
Can you use an EPT on a tooth with a crown?
NO
What does a reading of 80 mean on the EPT?
dead
If a tooth does not respond to cold would you do EPT?
Yes
If a tooth responds positive to cold, lingering pain would you do EPT?
NO
If many teeth respond to cold should you do EPT?
Yes
- they might have periapical cemento osseous dysplasia
What will give false positives for an EPT?
– You touched the gingiva
– You failed to isolate and dry the area
– Tooth paste slopped onto an adjacent
tooth
– Patient is not giving correct response for various reasons or is confused
What will give false negatives for an EPT?
– You failed to achieve good contact at the tip
– Patient failed to get good contact w/ their
finger
– The tooth has extreme calcification and DNR
– The patient has high pain threshold and DNR
– Battery is low or dead
– Machine is broken
How does tissue with trauma respond to EPT?
All tissues following trauma have some degree of loss of normal response for a certain time period
How does undeveloped (immature) pulp respond to EPT?
Tissue & Teeth that have not fully developed will often show no response yet be fully vital but lack active innervation
What does the apex locator suggest when there is an intermittent “Beep” and no red lines?
Somewhere within the canal and short of PDL
What does the apex locator suggest when there is 1 red line + solid tone?
Barely Patent in the PDL
What is patency?
The canal is “PATENT” when a #10 file goes slightly beyond the canal exit (.5 mm.) = Long = into the Periodontal Ligament
_____________ will help us locate the canal exit clinically
The Apex Locator
What does a single red line on the apex locator mean?
patency
- in the CANAL (Short)
- Or Just barely touching the PDL
- SUBTRACT 1mm. for WL (Working Length)
What do you do for a WL radiograph?
- Use #15 file for WL-XR to be able to see tip.
- Never go patent more than 1mm. & never any larger than a size #10 patent
- Don’t spend more than 5 min. (if it’s not working for you call faculty
The OBJECT of the apex locator is first to make sure…
you are in the canal
- If it shows us a red line BEFORE we should be at apex, it MAY BE A PERFORATION!
If the apex locator shows us a red line BEFORE we should be at apex, it may be a _______________
PERFORATION
