Investigating interocclusal perception in tactile teeth sensibility using symmetric and asymmetric analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this clinical trial was to determine the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth and to obtain a statistical analysis method fitting a psychometric function through the observed data points. On 68 complete dentulous test persons (34 males, 34 females, mean age 45.9 ± 16.1 years), one pair of healthy natural teeth each was tested: n = 24 anterior teeth and n = 44 posterior teeth. The computer-assisted, randomized measurement was done by having the subjects bite on thin copper foils of different thickness (5-200 µm) inserted between the teeth. The threshold of active tactile sensibility was defined by the 50% value of correct answers. Additionally, the gradient of the sensibility curve and the support area (90-10% value) as a description of the shape of the sensibility curve were calculated. For modeling the sensibility curve, symmetric and asymmetric functions were used. The mean sensibility threshold was 14.2 ± 12.1 µm. The older the subject, the higher the tactile threshold (r = 0.42, p = 0.0006). The support area was 41.8 ± 43.3 µm. The higher the 50% threshold, the smaller the gradient of the curve and the larger the support area. The curves showing the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth demonstrate a tendency towards asymmetry, so that the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth can mathematically best be described by using the asymmetric Weibull function.

Mechanosensation and maximum bite force in edentulous patients rehabilitated with bimaxillary implant‐supported fixed dental prostheses

“…Furthermore, the range within the 10% and 90% threshold levels gave an estimation of the "certainty" and "precision" of the detection of the interocclusal foil (Enkling et al 2010a(Enkling et al , 2010b.…”

Osseoperception in Dental Implants: A Systematic Review

“…Tactile perception was found to depend on the implant surface structure and might point to receptors near the implants as the anatomical basis of osseoperception . Several studies demonstrated that even though the periodontal fiber was missing, the tactile sensibility of the prosthetic restorations would increase when placed on the implants, and that the implant‐supported restorations were superior to soft tissue‐supported restorations with regard to both stability and tactile sensibility . Mericske‐Stern et al concluded that oral function, chewing, and biting of overdenture wearers is similar with support of either implants or natural roots .…”

“…DCK has the ability to recognize the direction of movement of a cutaneous stimulus . Graphaesthesia is the perception of figures drawn on the skin . Both of these tests correlate the physiologic function of the receptors to the subjective response of the patient …”

“…[70][71][72] Mericske-Stern et al concluded that oral function, chewing, and biting of overdenture wearers is similar with support of either implants or natural roots. 72 The absence of a PDL did not lead to highly increased occlusal forces and subsequently to overload of the implants. Enkling et al mentioned how far tactile sensibility was attributed to the periodontium of the natural tooth opposing the implant restorations.…”

“…75 Graphaesthesia is the perception of figures drawn on the skin. 72,76 Both of these tests correlate the physiologic function of the receptors to the subjective response of the patient. 77 A study by Macefield et al confirmed that the tactile response decreased at the level of abutment connection, after stage-two surgery.…”