Cortical Representation Area of Human Dental Pulp

Kubo, Keitaro; Shibukawa, Yoshiyuki; Shintani, Masuro; Suzuki, Takashi; Ichinohe, Tatsuya; Kaneko, Yuzuru

doi:10.1177/154405910808700409

Cited by 38 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This is in agreement with earlier findings based on recording somatosensory-evoked magnetic fields during intraoral tactile stimulation (excluding the teeth) in humans (Tamura et al 2008) and from neuronal tracing studies (teeth and tongue) in new world monkeys (Iyengar et al 2007). Previous studies have reported locations in the SI cortex for intraoral structures including the lip, hard palate, gingiva, and tongue (Murayama et al 2005;Nakahara et al 2004;Nevalainen et al 2006), tooth dental pulp (Kubo et al 2008), and tooth tactile stimulation (Miyamoto et al 2006), but this is the first report of SI activations to psychophysically controlled vibrotactile stimulation of periodontal afferents.…”

Section: Brain Activation To 20 Hz Tooth Vibrationmentioning

confidence: 71%

Brain Activations in Response to Vibrotactile Tooth Stimulation: a Psychophysical and fMRI Study

Trulsson

Francis

Bowtell

et al. 2010

Journal of Neurophysiology

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The tactile sensitivity of the teeth, and associated periodontium, serves important sensory and motor functions. Microneurographic recordings from human periodontal ligament mechanoreceptor (PDLM) nerves, in response to tooth loading, reveal discharge patterns with sole slowly adapting (SA) II-type characteristics, highlighting the unique role of PDLMs in oral sensory processes. Here we investigate these receptors' properties, psychophysically and with neuroimaging (fMRI), in response to varying frequencies of dynamic (vibrotactile) stimulation. The finding of increased activity in primary (SI) and secondary (SII) somatosensory cortices (SI and SII) at low frequencies of stimulation (20 Hz) as compared with higher frequencies (50 and 100 Hz), shows an increased entrainment of the PDLMs at this lower frequency in line with expected SA II-type response properties. At the highest frequency (100 Hz), no significant activity was found in SI or SII, suggesting this frequency is outside the range of activity of PDLMs. An activation matrix is mapped that includes SI, SII, insular, inferior frontal gyrus, inferior parietal lobe and supplementary motor area as well as middle frontal gyrus and cerebellum. We compared the responses to tooth stimulation with those produced by identical vibrotactile stimulation of the finger. The results strongly suggest that the PDLMs play a significant role in the specification of the forces used to hold and manipulate food between teeth, and in these respects, the masticatory system appears analogous to fine finger-control mechanisms used during precision manipulation of small objects. Because fMRI reveals activations in posterior insular cortex, we also speculate that PDLMs, and SA II-type receptors in general, may be involved in one aspect of the feeling of body ownership.

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Section: Brain Activation To 20 Hz Tooth Vibrationmentioning

confidence: 71%

Brain Activations in Response to Vibrotactile Tooth Stimulation: a Psychophysical and fMRI Study

Trulsson

Francis

Bowtell

et al. 2010

Journal of Neurophysiology

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“…These electroreceptors are densely distributed in the perioral region . In monotremes, bill skin electroreceptors are innervated by the trigeminal nerve, and signals from both are processed in the somatosensory neocortex of the forebrain (Pettigrew, 1999;Kubo et al, 2008), a characteristic evident in teeth. Electroreceptors and teeth show similar ontogeny with a dependency on cranial neural crest for the formation of both organs (Chai et al, 2000;Freitas et al, 2006).…”

Section: Remarks On the Evolution Of Dentitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blueprint of an ancestral neurosensory organ revealed in glial networks in human dental pulp

Farahani

Simonian

Hunter

2011

J of Comparative Neurology

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Sensory function of human dental pulp has long been known. A composite role has been suggested for odontoblasts as sensory cells in addition to the synthesis of dentinal matrix. However, the neural basis for such a composite sensory activity remains enigmatic. Here, we aimed to probe the question by pursuing an evolutionary logic; if dental pulp is a vestigial sensory organ co-opted to a function of synthesis of mineralized matrix, essential elements of neurosensory organs may persist in dental pulp. Through structural analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy, three distinct cell populations adjacent to odontoblasts, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)(+) seracytes, S100(+) telacytes, and HLA-II(+) alacytes were identified in peripheral human dental pulp. Subsequent molecular fingerprinting by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction established these cells as analogous to radial glia (GFAP(+) cells), astrocytes (S100(+) cells), and microglia (HLA-II(+) cells) of central nervous system organs. In the cell-rich zone of the pulp, S100(+) cells formed a network, ensheathed unmyelinated axons, and extended end-feet around the capillaries. The microcirculation adjacent to the glial cells in the cell-rich zone possessed ultrastructural features and a gene expression profile typical of the blood-brain barrier system. These novel findings support a new paradigm for understanding sensory functionality of dental pulp by the demonstration of a sophisticated neural structure in the human dental pulp that is analogous to other central sensory organs. Further, the structure that is revealed informs the concept of the evolutionary origin of the dental pulp, suggesting that a neurosensory organ was the precursor structure of teeth.

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“…Nakahara et al using MEG showed S1 represented separate cortical areas for lips and tongue, with no clear separate area for gingiva [157]. Kubo et al used electrical stimulation on tooth pulp and recorded the results with MEG [158]. MEG was also used by Bessho et al for studing three separate areas in hard palate [159] etc.…”

Section: Magnetoencephalography (Meg)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of root form endosseous dental implant-Transformation from bone anchored to ligament anchored implants and its neurological aspects-Sensory dental implants

Das¹,

Soni²,

Bellare³

2017

Med Devices Diagn Eng

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This review paper investigates the possible transformation of endosseous dental implant, primarily from the current osseointegrated to the future ligament anchored implant within which a new class of implants with enhanced feature of "neuro-ligament integration" may appear. Endosseous dental implants used presently to replace missing teeth get fused with bone but they do not have any periodontal ligament interface between the alveolar socket and the surface of the implant, which natural teeth do. Hence, they lack any proprioceptive sensation, which is important for discrimination, directional and masticatory sensation. Attempts have been made to regenerate periodontium around the implant in 90s, which was not completely successful. Thereafter, there has been limited research. However, recent advances in tissue engineering and biomaterials gave renewed hope of establishing sensory dental implants. In this review, various methods of regeneration of periodontium onto the surface of titanium implants have been discussed along with the possible types of neurological assessment and neuroimaging that could be carried out for validation of its afferent feedback. The review starts by giving background information of major stages and terminologies in the field of oral implants, its response to host tissue in bone, various surface modification of dental implants, stem cells that are used for periodontal regeneration, different approaches for regeneration of periodontium, concept of proprioception in periodontium, osseoperception of dental implants and concludes with neurophysiology of oro-dentofacial region in brain including its detection and measurements methods.

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Cortical Representation Area of Human Dental Pulp

Cited by 38 publications

References 36 publications

Brain Activations in Response to Vibrotactile Tooth Stimulation: a Psychophysical and fMRI Study

Brain Activations in Response to Vibrotactile Tooth Stimulation: a Psychophysical and fMRI Study

Blueprint of an ancestral neurosensory organ revealed in glial networks in human dental pulp

Evolution of root form endosseous dental implant-Transformation from bone anchored to ligament anchored implants and its neurological aspects-Sensory dental implants

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