Percussion

Percussion (Latin percussio) is a diagnostic method in dentistry that involves lightly tapping the crown of a tooth with the handle of an instrument. The method allows you to assess the condition of the tissues surrounding the root of the tooth.

Differential diagnosis

A distinction is made between vertical percussion (blows along the axis of the tooth) and horizontal percussion (blows from the side). Pain in vertical percussion most often indicates inflammation of the tissue around the root tip (apical periodontitis or trauma), while sensitivity in horizontal percussion may be a sign of periodontal disease.

Clinical significance

Percussion helps the doctor to distinguish pulpitis from apical periodontitis, and in some cases to detect trauma or fracture of the tooth. In pulpitis, percussion is usually painless (because the periodontal ligament of the tooth is healthy), but in acute apical periodontitis or abscess, it causes pain. This simple test is an indispensable tool for identifying the causative tooth when a patient complains of non-localized pain.