Intrusive force and pulp flow measurement.

Abstract

We read an article in the July issue entitled “Effects of magnitude of intrusive force on pulpal blood flow in maxillary molars” (Ersahan S, Sabuncuoglu FA. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2015;148:83-9). While we were reading it, several doubts occurred to us, and we would like some explanations, if possible.1.Would it not be interesting to have made the sample calculation to establish whether the sample size was sufficient to acquire a reliable result?1Wittes J. Sample size calculations for randomized controlled trials.Epidemiol Rev. 2002; 24: 39-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (179) Google Scholar2.We noted the exclusion criteria; however, there was no eligibility criterion delimited for the participants. In view of this, it is a problem that potentially affects the validity of a study. Would it not have been better to elaborate these criteria as well?2Rothwell P.M. External validity of randomised controlled trials: “to whom do the results of this trial apply?”.Lancet. 2005; 365: 82-93Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1749) Google Scholar3.What proportion of the patients in each subgroup were men and women? What was the most frequent age? Reduction in pulp chamber height is known to be greater in the female than male patlents,3Jain R. Rai B. Anand S. Sexual dimorphism: dentin formation and odontoblast.Internet J Dent Sci. 2007; 6: 18Google Scholar and also in the relationship between aging and secondary dentin deposition; consequently, there is a reduction in the pulp chamber.4Star H. Thevissen P. Jacobs R. Fieuws S. Solheim T. Willems G. Human dental age estimation by calculation of pulp-tooth volume ratios yielded on clinically acquired cone beam computed tomography images of monoradicular teeth.J Forensic Sci. 2011; 56: S77-S82Crossref PubMed Scopus (104) Google Scholar Would this not influence the result of pulp flow measurement? Knowing the diversity regarding anatomy and sizes of tooth roots and root canals, would it not be interesting to establish standardization with respect to this point?5Barbizam J.V. Ribeiro R.G. Tanomaru Filho M. Unusual anatomy of permanent maxillary molars.J Endod. 2004; 30: 668-671Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (74) Google Scholar, 6Sharma R. Maroli K. Sinha N. Singh B. An unusual maxillary molar with four roots and four buccal canals confirmed with the aid of spiral computed tomography: a case report.J Int Oral Health. 2014; 6: 80-84Google Scholar, 7Kottoor J. Velmurugan N. Sudha R. Hemamalathi S. Maxillary first molar with seven root canals diagnosed with cone-beam computed tomography scanning: a case report.J Endod. 2010; 36: 915-921Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (78) Google Scholar, 8Cleghorn B.M. Christie W.H. Dong C.C. Root and root canal morphology of the human permanent maxillary first molar: a literature review.J Endod. 2006; 32: 813-821Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (253) Google Scholar We take the opportunity of closing these clarification questions to congratulate the authors on the study. Effects of magnitude of intrusive force on pulpal blood flow in maxillary molarsAmerican Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial OrthopedicsVol. 148Issue 1PreviewIn this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare blood-flow changes in the pulp tissues of maxillary molars over a 6-month period after orthodontic intrusion using different magnitudes of force. Full-Text PDF Authors' responseAmerican Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial OrthopedicsVol. 148Issue 6PreviewWe thank the Editor for allowing us to respond to the comments on our article, “Effects of magnitude of intrusive force on pulpal blood flow in maxillary molars,” published in July 2015. We appreciate the investigators' interest in this topic and thank them for their careful observations. Full-Text PDF