Prognostic Value of Pulpal Blood pH and Oxygen Saturation in Vital Pulp Therapy: Determination of Clinically Relevant Thresholds in a Prospective Clinical Study

September 27, 2026 updated by: ertuğrul karataş

Interventional Prognostic Value of Pulpal Blood pH and Oxygen Saturation in Vital Pulp Therapy: Determination of Clinically Relevant Thresholds in a Prospective Clinical Study

The increasing emphasis on biological tissue preservation in contemporary endodontics has positioned vital pulp therapy (VPT) as an important treatment strategy for maintaining pulp vitality and preserving the functional integrity of the pulp-dentine complex. Advances in biomaterials and understanding of pulpal healing have expanded the indications for VPT and contributed to favourable clinical outcomes; however, appropriate case selection remains a critical determinant of treatment success. Currently, the clinical assessment of pulpal status before VPT relies on a combination of patient-reported symptoms, clinical and radiographic findings, pulp sensibility testing and intraoperative assessment of pulpal bleeding. Although clinically valuable, these parameters do not provide a direct and objective measure of the biological status or healing potential of the pulp and may be influenced by clinical interpretation. Consequently, there remains a need for objective biological parameters that provide more direct information on pulpal status and healing potential, thereby supporting case selection and prognostic assessment in VPT.

Progressive pulpal inflammation is accompanied by increased production of inflammatory mediators, vascular congestion, enhanced vascular permeability, impaired microcirculation, and reduced tissue perfusion. These vascular alterations may compromise oxygen delivery to the pulp, resulting in reduced pulpal oxygen saturation (SpO2). As oxygen availability decreases, cellular metabolism shifts towards anaerobic pathways, promoting the accumulation of acidic metabolites, which may consequently lead to a reduction in pulpal blood pH. Accordingly, pulpal SpO2 and pulpal blood pH may represent complementary physiological and metabolic indicators of pulpal inflammatory status. Their assessment may provide objective information on the biological condition and healing potential of the pulp that is not directly captured by conventional diagnostic methods. Consistent with these observations, Hosseinzadehfard et al. (2026) reported that pulpal blood pH and SpO2 varied with pulpal diagnostic status, supporting their potential value as objective indicators of pulpal inflammation. However, their study focused on the diagnostic relevance of these parameters rather than their association with VPT success. To date, their association with subsequent treatment outcomes and clinically relevant thresholds for outcome prediction remain to be established.

The present prospective clinical study aims to investigate the association of pulpal blood pH and pulpal SpO2, individually and in combination, with the clinical and radiographic outcome of VPT at the 12-month follow-up, and to determine clinically relevant threshold values associated with treatment success. Pulpal blood pH will be assessed both immediately after initial pulp exposure and following pulpotomy in the remaining vital pulp tissue, allowing evaluation of the relationship between the two pH measurements. Systemic oxygen saturation and venous blood pH will additionally serve as physiological reference measures. The findings may provide an evidence-based foundation for a more objective and biologically informed approach to case selection and prognostic assessment in VPT.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

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Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

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Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
96

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

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Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years to 50 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients aged 16-50 years presenting with permanent molar teeth affected by deep dentinal caries will be consecutively screened for eligibility, with a total of 96 eligible participants recruited into the study. Teeth diagnosed with reversible pulpitis or symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, exhibiting positive responses to both cold testing and electric pulp testing (EPT) and no radiographic evidence of apical radiolucency will be eligible for inclusion in the study. Prior to enrolment, all participants will receive detailed verbal and written information regarding the study protocol. Written informed consent will be obtained before any clinical procedures are performed. Baseline demographic and clinical information, including age, sex, tooth type, pulpal diagnosis, presenting symptoms, clinical findings and radiographic characteristics will be recorded using standardized case report forms.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged 16-50 years who provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
  • Patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I.
  • Permanent molar teeth with deep dentinal caries considered suitable for vital pulp therapy.
  • Teeth diagnosed with reversible pulpitis or symptomatic irreversible pulpitis based on predefined clinical diagnostic criteria.
  • Teeth exhibiting a positive response to both cold testing and electric pulp testing (EPT).
  • Teeth without tenderness to percussion or palpation.
  • Teeth without clinical evidence of swelling or sinus tract.
  • Teeth without radiographic evidence of apical radiolucency.
  • Teeth considered restorable and suitable for adequate rubber-dam isolation.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Teeth exhibiting a negative response to cold testing and/or EPT or diagnosed with pulp necrosis.
  • Teeth with radiographic evidence of apical radiolucency.
  • Teeth with a history of previous root canal treatment.
  • Teeth with internal or external root resorption, vertical or horizontal root fracture or a history of dental trauma.
  • Teeth with pathological mobility or generalized periodontitis.
  • Teeth with swelling or a sinus tract.
  • Teeth that cannot be adequately isolated using a rubber dam.
  • Teeth with extensive pre-existing coronal restorations, full-coverage crowns or other conditions that may interfere with appropriate positioning of the pulse oximeter probe or optical signal transmission.
  • Patients classified as ASA II or higher.
  • Patients who have used antibiotics, bisphosphonates, or statins within the four weeks preceding treatment.
  • Patients who have taken analgesic medication within 48 hours before treatment.
  • Pregnant patients or those with suspected pregnancy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association Between Initial Pulpal Blood pH (pH₁) and 12-Month Vital Pulp Therapy Outcome
Time Frame: From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.

Initial pulpal blood pH (pH₁) will be measured immediately after pulp exposure and before the application of any hemostatic agent, irrigation solution, or pulp-capping material. Approximately 50 µL of freely available pulpal blood will be collected using a sterile single-use microcapillary tube and immediately measured using a HORIBA LAQUAtwin pH-33 microvolume pH meter with Sampling Sheet B. Values will be reported in pH units. The association between pH₁ and the 12-month clinical and radiographic outcome of vital pulp therapy (success or failure) will be evaluated.
From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.
Association Between Post-Pulpotomy Pulpal Blood pH (pH₂) and 12-Month Vital Pulp Therapy Outcome
Time Frame: From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.

Among participants undergoing pulpotomy, post-pulpotomy pulpal blood pH (pH₂) will be measured from the remaining vital pulp tissue before the application of any hemostatic agent, disinfectant solution or pulp-capping material. Approximately 50 µL of freely available pulpal blood will be collected using a sterile single-use microcapillary tube and immediately measured using a HORIBA LAQUAtwin pH-33 microvolume pH meter with Sampling Sheet B. Values will be reported in pH units. The association between pH₂ and the 12-month clinical and radiographic outcome of vital pulp therapy (success or failure) will be evaluated.
From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.
Association Between Pulpal Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂) and 12-Month Vital Pulp Therapy Outcome
Time Frame: From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.

Pulpal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) will be measured using pulse oximetry and reported as a percentage (%). The association between pulpal SpO₂ and the 12-month clinical and radiographic outcome of vital pulp therapy (success or failure) will be evaluated.
From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinically Relevant Threshold Value of Initial Pulpal Blood pH (pH₁) for 12-Month VPT Outcome
Time Frame: From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.

A clinically relevant threshold value for initial pulpal blood pH (pH₁) in relation to the 12-month clinical and radiographic outcome of vital pulp therapy will be determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. pH₁ will be reported in pH units. The prognostic performance of the identified threshold will be evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).
From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.
Clinically Relevant Threshold Value of Post-Pulpotomy Pulpal Blood pH (pH₂) for 12-Month VPT Outcome
Time Frame: From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.

Among participants undergoing pulpotomy, a clinically relevant threshold value for post-pulpotomy pulpal blood pH (pH₂) in relation to the 12-month clinical and radiographic outcome of vital pulp therapy will be determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. pH₂ will be reported in pH units. The prognostic performance of the identified threshold will be evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).
From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.
Clinically Relevant Threshold Value of Pulpal Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂) for 12-Month VPT Outcome
Time Frame: From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.

A clinically relevant threshold value for pulpal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) in relation to the 12-month clinical and radiographic outcome of vital pulp therapy will be determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Pulpal SpO₂ will be reported as a percentage (%). The prognostic performance of the identified threshold will be evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).
From baseline (treatment day) to the 12-month follow-up for each participant.
Correlation Between Pulpal and Systemic Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
Time Frame: Measurements obtained on the treatment day (baseline).

The correlation between pulpal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and systemic oxygen saturation (SpO₂) measured at the index finger will be evaluated. Systemic SpO₂ will serve as the physiological reference measure for pulpal oxygen saturation. Both measurements will be obtained using pulse oximetry and reported as a percentage (%).
Measurements obtained on the treatment day (baseline).
Correlation Between Initial Pulpal Blood pH (pH₁) and Venous Blood pH
Time Frame: Measurements obtained on the treatment day (baseline).

Initial pulpal blood pH (pH₁) will be measured using a HORIBA LAQUAtwin pH-33 microvolume pH meter and reported in pH units. Venous blood pH will be measured using venous blood gas analysis and reported in pH units. The correlation between pH₁ and venous blood pH will be evaluated, with venous blood pH serving as the systemic physiological reference measure.
Measurements obtained on the treatment day (baseline).
Correlation Between Post-Pulpotomy Pulpal Blood pH (pH₂) and Venous Blood pH
Time Frame: Measurements obtained on the treatment day (baseline).

Among participants undergoing pulpotomy, post-pulpotomy pulpal blood pH (pH₂) will be measured from the remaining vital pulp tissue using a HORIBA LAQUAtwin pH-33 microvolume pH meter and reported in pH units. Venous blood pH will be measured using venous blood gas analysis and reported in pH units. The correlation between pH₂ and venous blood pH will be evaluated, with venous blood pH serving as the systemic physiological reference measure.
Measurements obtained on the treatment day (baseline).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
ertuğrul karataş

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Ertuğrul KARATAŞ, Ataturk University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 27, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 27, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ATA-ENDO-VPTPH-2026-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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