Table 2.

Clinical findings used in the current study to differentiate between SIP and SAP

Criterion	SIP	SAP
Sensitivity to carbon dioxide snow	+	-
Radiographically widened ligament space	+/-	+
Periapical radiolucency	-	+/-
Swelling or sinus tract	-	-

SIP symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, SAP symptomatic apical periodontitis, + positive response or sign clearly present, +/- mixed response or not present in all cases, - negative response or clearly absent

Note: sensitivity to percussion was not included, as almost all of the acutely painful teeth in this study responded positive to percussion