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Passive tactile sensibility in edentulous subjects treated with dental implants: a pilot study.
- Source :
-
The Journal of prosthetic dentistry [J Prosthet Dent] 2004 Jan; Vol. 91 (1), pp. 26-32. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Statement of Problem: Edentulous patients treated with implant-supported prostheses have shown increased passive tactile sensibility compared with those using conventional complete dentures. This is thought to be due to the close mechanical coupling between the implant and bone via the osseointegrated interface, yet the phenomenon has received little attention.<br />Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure passive tactile sensibility in a group of edentulous subjects treated with dental implants, and to relate the measured sensibility to a range of factors thought to be of possible relevance, namely, patient age, gender, time since implant placement, implant length, and implant separation.<br />Material and Methods: Twenty edentulous subjects successfully treated with 2 or more Nobel Biocare dental implants in the anterior mandible were studied. The inclusion criteria were : (1) age of less than 50 years, (2) a period of at least 12 months since implant placement, (3) implant length of at least 10 mm and of standard diameter (excluding narrow and wide platform designs), and (4) implant separation of at least 18 mm. Using a computer-controlled custom-made device, pushing forces (2.1, 2.4, 2.7, and 3.0 N/s) were applied directly and perpendicular to the long axes of the implant abutments until the subjects felt the first sensation of pressure. The magnitude of these forces was measured with an integral transducer. The applied force had a ramped staircase pattern, and force application rates were varied between 2.1 and 3.0 N/s. Multilevel modeling was used to analyze the collected data (alpha=.05).<br />Results: The threshold values of passive tactile sensibility ranged between 3.1 and 15.7 N (mean 10.9; SD 3.9). Analysis failed to show any significant association between passive tactile sensibility and the variables studied.<br />Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, which included a small sample size, no relationship was found between passive tactile sensibility associated with long-standing implants and any of the variables studied (age, gender, time since implant placement, implant length, and implant separation).
- Subjects :
- Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Dental Abutments
Dental Prosthesis Design
Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported
Female
Humans
Male
Mandible physiopathology
Middle Aged
Mouth, Edentulous rehabilitation
Pilot Projects
Pressure
Sex Factors
Stress, Mechanical
Time Factors
Weight-Bearing
Dental Implants
Mouth, Edentulous physiopathology
Sensory Thresholds physiology
Touch physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0022-3913
- Volume :
- 91
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Journal of prosthetic dentistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 14739890
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2003.10.015