Comparative Evaluation of Passive Tactile Sensibility Associated with Osseointegrated Implants in Various Regions of Partially Edentulous ArchA Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction: The extremely sensitive tactile sensors periodontal mechanoreceptors play a key role in sensory innervation of teeth. The oral kinaesthetic perceptual abilities in the absence of periodontal mechanoreceptive input can be achieved by osseointegrated prosthesis.

Aim: To evaluate the passive tactile sensibility associated with osseointegrated dental implant in various regions of the maxillary and mandibular arch.

Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed in SRM Dental College, Chennai, India between August 2013 to February 2015. Fifty patients who had single tooth replacement with functioning implants loaded six months before were included. A compressive force was applied along the long axis of the implant supported prosthesis using a push type force measuring gauge until the subject felt the first sensation of pressure and subsequently, it displayed the magnitude of force that provided the tactile sensation. The force measuring gauge used was Model: FG 5000 A form Lutron electronic enterprises co., ltd. The procedure was repeated thrice. The patient was guided to record the force perception on visual analogue scale with continuous force. The visual analogue scale has values 0-4 starting from no sensation, mild, moderate, intense and pain and the average force measured. The values of the force recorded were statistically analysed using the t-test, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 was used. The p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The overall mean value of maxilla was 23.12 N and the standard deviation was ±2.88 N. The overall mean value of mandibular was 22.44 N and the standard deviation of ±2.06 N and there was no significant difference in the threshold for passive tactile perception between maxilla and mandible.

Conclusion: The results showed that mandibular anterior teeth had least threshold for force applied than any other region of the mouth and the maxillary posterior had the highest threshold. The anterior region exhibited better passive tactile threshold measure when compared to posterior region.