The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cold, heat, and electrical pulp tests in adults with teeth suspected of requiring endodontic treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. How accurately do cold, heat, and electrical pulp tests identify pulp vitality?
2. How do these tests compare with direct visual inspection of pulp bleeding during endodontic access (reference standard)? Participants attending The University Endodontics Clinic with at least one tooth indicated for endodontic access will receive cold, heat, and electrical pulp testing as part of the clinical examination. The test responses will be recorded and compared with the presence or absence of pulp bleeding observed directly after access cavity preparation.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥ 18 years
* At least one tooth indicated for root canal treatment confirmed at the Endodontics initial examination unit
* Able and willing to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
Tooth-related
* Full-coverage crown
* Extensive restoration affecting testing area
* History of dental trauma (for the study tooth)
* Root resorption
* Incomplete root development (open apex)
* Tooth fracture or crack
* Regressed pulp chamber / pulp canal obliteration or calcified root canals Patient-related
* Severe or uncontrolled systemic disease: ASA physical status 3-6
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Predictive values of pulp sensibility tests for pulp vitality
Timeframe: Periprocedural (during pulp testing and access cavity preparation on Day 1)