Evaluation of Sensibility Threshold for Interocclusal Thickness of Patients Wearing Complete Dentures

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness in experienced and nonexperienced denture wearers after the insertion of new complete dentures. Materials and Methods A total of 88 patients with complete dentures have participated in this study. The research was divided into two experimental groups, compared with the previous experience prosthetic dental treatment. The sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness was measured with metal foil with 8 μm thickness and width of 8 mm, placed between the upper and lower incisor region. Statistical analysis was performed using standard software package BMDP (biomedical statistical package). Results Results suggest that time of measurement affects the average values of the sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness (F = 242.68, p = 0.0000). Gender appeared to be a significant factor when it interacted with time measurement resulting in differences in sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness (gender: F = 9.84, p = 0.018; F = 4.83, p = 0.0003). Conclusion The sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness was the most important functional adaptation in patient with complete dentures. A unique trait of this indicator is the progressive reduction of initial values and a tendency to reestablish the stationary state in the fifteenth week after dentures is taken off.

Importance of Osseoperception and Tactile Sensibility during Masticatory Function in Different Prosthetic Rehabilitations: A Review

“…Another research study concerning active tactile sensibility was conducted by Shala [13], who studied sensibility associated with complete denture carriers. This investigation compared patients who had been wearing prostheses for several years with respect to new carriers, in order to measure the adaptation during the passage of the time.…”

“…The main investigations of tactile sensibility thresholds in different prosthetic rehabilitations and natural teeth were those from Enkling [19,21,22,25], Shala [13], Reveredo [17], Kazemi [18], Grieznis [23], or Batista [24]. In conclusion, the thresholds in implantsupported prosthesis were lower than those in complete dentures and very similar to those present in natural dentition, and this fact allowed an increased sensibility in dental implants that facilitated the functional integration of these prostheses [7,8,11].…”

Tactile Sensibility Thresholds in Implant Prosthesis, Complete Dentures and Natural Dentition: Review about Their Value in Literature

“…On the other hand, psychophysical studies measuring active tactile sensibility are easier to reproduce on the dental chair and are more common in the literature. These studies are based on the minimum interocclusal thickness that can be noticed by a patient with natural dentition or rehabilitated with some kind of prosthesis [30]. The methodology of these investigations is based on placing metal foils with different thicknesses interocclusally.…”

Occlusal tactile acuity in temporomandibular disorder pain patients: A case‐control study

“…Several terms have been used to describe the smallest thickness that can be perceived between occluding teeth during voluntary closing into maximum intercuspation: interdental thickness discrimination, interdental threshold ability, occlusal sensitivity and interocclusal tactile threshold 2‐5 . This manuscript uses the term occlusal tactile acuity (OTA) in analogy to the term “tactile acuity” used when testing skin sensitivity.…”

“…Anaesthesia to the occluding teeth results in a marked impairment of the OTA, demonstrating that the periodontal mechanoreceptors are primarily responsible for it 7 . Notwithstanding, OTA is impaired but not completely lost in patients with implants or dentures, 4,12 suggesting that OTA can be attributed also to mechanoreceptors within tissues other than the periodontal ligament.…”