Introduction:Pulp sensitivity testing, even with its limitations and shortcomings, has been and still remains a very helpful aid in endodontic diagnosis. Pulp sensitivity tests extrapolate pulpal health from the sensory response. The aim of the present study was to identify the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (NPVs) of thermal and electrical tests of pulp sensitivity.Materials and Methods:Pulp tests studied were two cold and heat tests respectively and electrical test. A total of 330 teeth were tested: 198 teeth with vital pulp and 132 teeth with necrotic pulps (disease prevalence of 40%). The ideal standard was established by observing bleeding within the pulp chamber.Results:Sensitivity values of the diagnostic tests were 0.89 and 0.94 for cold test, 0.84 and 0.87 for the heat tests, and 0.75 for electrical pulp test and the specificity values of the diagnostic tests were 0.91 and 0.93 for the cold tests, 0.86 and 0.84 for the heat tests, and 0.90 for electrical pulp test. The NPVs were 0.91 and 0.96 for the cold tests, 0.89 and 0.91 for the heat tests, and 0.84 for electrical pulp test. The positive predictive values were 0.89 and 0.90 for the cold tests, 0.80 and 0.79 for the heat tests and 0.88 for electrical pulp test. The highest accuracy (0.9393) was observed with cold test (icy spray).Conclusions:The cold test done with icy spray was the most accurate method for sensitivity testing.

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Background: Recently, new calcium silicate-based materials have been introduced as root-end filling material which offers improved color stability and handling characteristics, while exhibiting physical and chemical properties comparable with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the sealability of 3 calcium silicate-based materials - MTA Plus (Prevest Denpro, India), Biodentine (Septodont, St. Maurdes Fossés, France), and TotalFill BC RRM (FKG, Brasseler, Savannah, USA) in a simulated open apex model. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two recently extracted human maxillary anterior teeth with single, straight root canals were selected and after establishing the working length, canals were prepared by Protaper Gold system up to size F3. The apical end was resected at 3 mm to simulate an open apex. Prepared roots were divided into groups according to the root repair materials – MTA (Prevest Denpro, India), Totalfill Bioceramic Root Repair Material (FKG, Brasseler, Savannah, USA), and Biodentine (Septodont, St. Maurdes Fossés, France). The apical plug of the root filling material was placed in the orthograde direction and a glucose leakage model was used to study the sealability of the materials. Results: All three materials showed more leakage at 14 days than at 7 days, however, there was no statistically significant difference between them. Conclusion: All three bioceramic materials exhibited equal amounts of apical leakage at 7 and 14 days.

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