Evaluation of the response to electric pulp testing in multiple sclerosis patients without a history of trigeminal neuralgia: a case-control study

BACKGROUND: The importance of evaluating the pulpal threshold to electrical stimulation, as a side effect of probable neuropathy in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients is a novel issue. This study aimed to investigate electrical pulp test thresholds in MS patients without a history of trigeminal neuralgia compared to healthy individuals. METHODS: Sixty-nine maxillary central incisors, belonging to 34 relapsing-remitting MS patients, and 35 healthy individuals were included in this survey. The MS patients matched for intended variables, were 22–50 years old, had a more than 1-year history of MS, no history of trigeminal neuralgia and/or other neuropathy. The electric pulp sensibility test was performed on all samples. Electric pulp testing (EPT) results were recorded based on the pulp tester(’)s grade that evoked a response. Data were analyzed with paired T-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman correlation (P < 0.05). RESULTS: According to the results of this study, the mean values of response to EPT were 1.2 ± 0.5 and 1.8 ± 0.5 in MS patients and healthy individuals, respectively. The pulpal response to EPT between the two groups was significantly different (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: MS patients showed a significantly reduced response to the electric pulp test in their maxillary central incisors in comparison to matched healthy persons.