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A negative response to the vitalometer immediately after severe luxation or displacement of a tooth indicates that the

A. pulp is inflamed.
B. vitalometer is giving a false reading.
C. pulp is necrotic and should be removed.
D. blood supply is interrupted, and the negative response may be temporary.
E. neural transmission is interrupted, and the negative response may be temporary.

User Sammiepls
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The most likely explanation for a negative vitalometer reading after tooth displacement is that the blood supply to the pulp is interrupted, causing a temporary lack of response. This does not immediately indicate that the pulp is necrotic, as necrosis is a process that takes time to develop after such trauma.

Step-by-step explanation:

A negative response to the vitalometer immediately after severe luxation or displacement of a tooth does not necessarily indicate that the pulp is necrotic. In such circumstances, it is more likely that D. the blood supply is interrupted, and the negative response may be temporary. A vitalometer tests the vitality of the dental pulp by sending a small electric current through the tooth. If the tooth does not respond, it may be due to either an inflamed, necrotic pulp, or an interrupted blood supply. After a traumatic injury like severe luxation, the blood supply to the pulp may be temporarily disrupted, leading to a lack of response on the pulp tester, but this may not mean that the pulp is necrotic.

Immediately after an injury, any necrotic pulp typically cannot be declared because pulpal necrosis is a process that takes time to develop. This negates options A and C that suggest inflammation or necrosis as immediate consequences. Option B suggests an issue with the vitalometer, which is less likely than a physiological response. Lastly, options D and E describe temporary interruptions to blood supply or neural transmission, which are common responses to dental trauma. Since the blood supply is more directly related to pulp vitality in most cases, option D is the most accurate explanation for the negative vitalometer response following severe tooth luxation. It's important to note that only after a period of observation can a definitive diagnosis about the pulp status be made.

User Zaboco
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