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

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The periodontium has important proprioceptive receptors that prevent teeth from using excessive occlusal forces during chewing. There are other receptors from adjacent tissues that replace periodontal ones when teeth are extracted and rehabilitated with prosthesis, although they seem to be less effective. Psychophysical studies investigate tactile sensibility thresholds, which are useful to measure this masticatory efficiency in different prosthetic rehabilitations. There are two types of sensibility depending on the receptors that are activated during these studies: active and passive tactile sensibility. The purpose of this study is to obtain active and passive tactile sensibility threshold figures in natural dentition and prosthetic rehabilitations so we can compare them and understand how this sensibility works in different situations. Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review of the available literature, following PRISMA guidelines and including articles from 2004 to 2021 in the MEDLINE database. Only 10 articles were included in this investigation as they provided concrete threshold figures. Results: The mean values of active tactile sensibility thresholds in complete dentures, implant prosthesis and natural dentition are 64 µ, 23.3 µ and 16.1 µ, respectively. The mean values of passive tactile sensibility thresholds in implant prosthesis and natural dentition are 6.7 N and 0.8 N, respectively. Conclusions: Implant prosthesis have lower thresholds, that are very close to those present in natural dentition, than complete dentures due to an increased tactile sensibility. Active tactile sensibility thresholds present fewer differences between values than passive tactile ones; as these are only influenced by receptors from periodontal or periimplant tissues.

Effect of a novel interocclusal recording method on occlusal accuracy of implant‐supported fixed prostheses: A randomized clinical trial

“…The adjustment time in this study was shorter than reported for implant-supported crowns produced using digital and conventional workflows (Haghi et al, 2022;Joda et al, 2016). However, the adjustment time is inevitably affected by operating and subjective fac- A supra-occlusion difference of ≥50 μm is clinically relevant due to it can be both perceived by patients and detected clinically by using articulating paper (Gonzalez-Gil et al, 2022). And the prosthodontist conducting occlusal adjustment in this study is experienced, but for non-specialists, an occlusal adjustment height difference of 59 μm may take longer adjustment time.…”

“…Before occlusal adjustment, the test method caused significantly less supra‐occlusion in MIP and led to less occlusal adjustment than the control method. A supra‐occlusion difference of ≥50 μm is clinically relevant due to it can be both perceived by patients and detected clinically by using articulating paper (Gonzalez‐Gil et al, 2022). And the prosthodontist conducting occlusal adjustment in this study is experienced, but for non‐specialists, an occlusal adjustment height difference of 59 μm may take longer adjustment time.…”