Endodontics · single question
Most definitive way to CONFIRM pulp necrosis?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Test cavity
- A. Incorrect. Transillumination detects cracks/caries, not pulp vitality.
- B. Correct. A test cavity (drilling into dentin WITHOUT anesthesia) is the most definitive: no sensation indicates a necrotic pulp. It is a last resort because it is irreversible.
- C. Incorrect. Palpation assesses periapical/soft-tissue tenderness, not pulp vitality.
- D. Incorrect. Percussion assesses the periodontal ligament/inflammation, not whether the pulp is alive.