Evaluation of Cold and Electric Pulp Tests for Assessing the Success of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block for Mandibular First Molars Diagnosed with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis
CE Hours: 1.0
Description: Fear of dentistry, often due to past painful experiences, is a significant barrier preventing patients from visiting dentists. Achieving effective pain control, especially during root canal treatments, is crucial. However, inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) have a low success rate, influenced by factors such as anxiety, anatomical variations, and technique limitations, leading to anesthesia failure. Although numerous studies have examined the cold test and electric pulp test (EPT) in assessing the success of local anesthesia, no standardized method has been established. This study evaluated the effectiveness of EPT and cold tests in assessing the depth of anesthesia in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in the mandibular first molar teeth.
At the conclusion of this article, the reader will be able to:
- Describe the effectiveness of cold and electric pulp tests (EPT) in assessing the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.
- Evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the cold test and EPT in diagnosing pulpal anesthesia failure.
- Discuss the clinical implications of combining cold and electric pulp tests for improving diagnostic accuracy in determining pulpal anesthesia success.
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Farzaneh Afkhami, DDS, MSc
Dr. Farzaneh Afkhami is a board-certified endodontist and an associate professor at the Department of Endodontics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and holds an academic affiliation with the School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Australia. She has authored over 50 research papers related to endodontics in prestigious peer-reviewed journals. Her work has garnered over 1.3 K citations and an h-index of 19 on Google Scholar. Dr. Afkhami has shared her findings at international scientific conferences and has supervised both
undergraduate and postgraduate students. Additionally, she holds a patent on a nanomaterial product as a root canal medicament, further advancing the field of endodontics.
Sholeh Ghabraei, DDS, MSc
Dr Sholeh Ghabraei is board-certified specialist in endodontics. She currently serves as associate professor in endodontics department, Dental school, Tehran university of medical sciences. Her research focuses on various aspects of endodontics including randomized controlled trials of anesthesia and pain control. She published 44 peer reviewed manuscripts.
Nasim Hashemi, DDS, MSc
Dr. Nasim Hashemi is a board-certified specialist in Endodontics. She achieved 2nd rank in the Iranian Endodontic Board Examination in 2025. Her research focuses on various aspects of endodontics including randomized controlled trials of anesthesia and pain control and broken instrument removal.
She has published nine peer-reviewed manuscripts, contributing to advancements in endodontic science.
Ove A. Peters, D.M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc.
Dr. Ove A. Peters joined the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, in 2020 after faculty positions in Heidelberg, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland, as well as at the University of California, San Francisco. He currently serves as the Professor of Endodontics and Head of Clinical Dentistry at UQ. Before moving to Australia, Dr. Peters was the founding director of the postgraduate endodontic program at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, a professor with tenure and the Chair of the Department of Endodontics at that school.
Dr. Peters has wide-ranging clinical and research expertise and has published more than 230 manuscripts related to endodontic technology and biology. He has authored two books and contributed to several leading textbooks in dentistry; he also is an associate editor for the International Endodontic Journal as well as the Australian Endodontic Journal, an academic editor for PLOS One and serves on the review panel of multiple other journals. Among others awards, Dr Peters has received the Hans Genet Award of the European Society of Endodontology and more recently the Louis I. Grossman Award of the American Association of Endodontists. He is a Diplomate of the ABE, a member of OKU and a Fellow of the International and American Colleges of Dentistry.
Disclosure(s): Dentsply Sirona: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing), Speaker/Honoraria (includes speakers bureau, symposia, and expert witness) (Ongoing)
