Laser Doppler for Accurate Diagnosis of Oehler’s Type III Dens Invaginatus: A Case Report

• Main Authors: Hui-Na Lee, Dah-You Yan, Chun-Yin Huang, Shih-Chieh Chen, Chin-Yun Pan, Jiiang-Huei Jeng, Yuk-Kwan Chen, Fu-Hsiung Chuang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: dens invaginatus; conservative; vital pulp; laser doppler
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/9/3848

In vital pulp therapy, pulp testing aids in the differential diagnosis and influences the treatment plan. Different from previous doppler flowmetry studies that only recorded waves and data, we report the first time, the use of a laser doppler blood flow monitor and imager with a colored image to present pulp vitality information in the dental field. We report here a case of Oehlers type IIIa dens invaginatus of the right upper lateral incisor in a 31-year-old girl, with the opening of the invagination near CDJ and a peri-invagination lesion sized 8 × 9 mm². Cone beam computed tomography was used to verify specific spatial and stereoscopic data. After removing the source of infection, mineral trioxide aggregate was selected to fill the invagination. Laser doppler was scheduled for further assessment. After three years of regular follow-up, the patient’s clinical condition improved, the peri-invagination lesion healed, and the laser doppler and electric pulp test both showed a positive reaction. Laser doppler has successfully improved the diagnostic accuracy Thus, unnecessary interventions can be avoided while reducing the treatment time by preserving the vitality. However, further work is needed to resolve the limitations of laser doppler.