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Oral Surgery · single question

When starting a cold pulp sensitivity test on tooth #14 (upper left first molar), the BEST reference tooth to start with is:

  1. #2 (upper right second molar)
  2. #3 (contralateral upper right first molar — establishes baseline response for that tooth type)
  3. #19 (lower left first molar)
  4. #20 (lower left second premolar)
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Correct answer: B. #3 (contralateral upper right first molar — establishes baseline response for that tooth type)

  • A. #2 (upper right second molar) is not the same tooth type as #14 (first molar).
  • B. Correct. When performing cold testing on any tooth, begin with a CONTRALATERAL TOOTH OF THE SAME TYPE to establish the patient's baseline normal response. For tooth #14 (upper left first molar), the correct starting point is #3 (upper right first molar) — same arch, same tooth type, contralateral side.
  • C. #19 (lower left first molar) is not the contralateral equivalent and crosses the arch — not the best starting reference.
  • D. #20 is a different tooth type (second premolar) — not the correct contralateral equivalent.

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