Pulp sensibility test responses in patients with epilepsy: A matched case–control study

Abstract Background This matched case–control study aimed to compare electric pulp testing (EPT) thresholds and cold test reaction times (CT) between patients with epilepsy and healthy controls. Methods Sixteen systemically healthy individuals and sixteen patients diagnosed with epilepsy were included. EPT and CT using ethyl chloride were applied to the coronal third of maxillary central incisors. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, Student’s t -test, and Mann–Whitney U test ( p < 0.05). Results The mean age of participants was 33.4 ± 1.8 years. EPT thresholds and CT reaction times were significantly higher in the epilepsy group compared with healthy controls (EPT (device unit = du): 6.81 ± 1.38 du vs. 3.81 ± 1.22 du; CT: 0.89 ± 0.18 s vs. 0.35 ± 0.12 s; p = 0.001). Conclusions Patients with epilepsy exhibited significantly reduced pulp sensibility responses to both electric and thermal stimuli. Pulp sensibility test results should be interpreted cautiously in patients with epilepsy, as altered neurological processing may affect diagnostic accuracy.