IADR Abstract Archives
Role of Somatosensory Amplification and Dental Occlusion on Occlusal Sensitivity
Objectives: Occlusal sensitivity (OS)—the ability to detect fine objects between opposing teeth—mainly relies on the activity of mechanoreceptors located in the periodontal ligament, the TMJ, and the masticatory muscles, and is altered in individuals with facial pain and/or reporting highly frequent oral behaviors. Here we determined whether somatosensory amplification (SSA)—the tendency to perceive normal somatic sensations as being intense, noxious, and disturbing which plays a critical role in occlusal hypervigilance—affects OS.
Methods: We measured OS in 60 adult healthy individuals subdivided into three equal groups based on their SSA scores (low, intermediate, and high). We asked them to bite on aluminum foils of five different thicknesses (8 to 72 μm) and a sham foil placed between the molar teeth and to report whether they felt the foil. We performed 20 trials for each thickness and sham condition (each blind participant was tested 120 times in random order). Using a general linear model (GLM), we compared the frequency of positive answers between groups. Participants’ bite force during the trial, bite force distribution on the tested tooth (measured using the T-scan Novus, Tekscan), perceived stress (perceived stress scale), and self-reported oral behaviors (oral behavior checklist – OBC scores) served as covariates.
Results: The GLM predicted 75% of OS variance. Individuals with high SSA had a reduced frequency of correct answers compared to individuals with low SSA when tested at 8 μm [contrast estimate (95% CI): -21.7% (-34.1% — -9.3%); p<0.001] and 24 μm [contrast estimate (95% CI): -13.2% (-25.5% — -1.0%); p=0.029]. OS was affected by participants’ bite force (p=0.026), OBC scores (p<0.001), and stress (p<0.001), but not by the bite force distribution on the testing teeth (p=0.925).
Conclusions: Individuals with high SSA show impaired occlusal sensitivity. OS is mainly driven by SSA, stress, and oral behaviors rather than dental features.
Methods: We measured OS in 60 adult healthy individuals subdivided into three equal groups based on their SSA scores (low, intermediate, and high). We asked them to bite on aluminum foils of five different thicknesses (8 to 72 μm) and a sham foil placed between the molar teeth and to report whether they felt the foil. We performed 20 trials for each thickness and sham condition (each blind participant was tested 120 times in random order). Using a general linear model (GLM), we compared the frequency of positive answers between groups. Participants’ bite force during the trial, bite force distribution on the tested tooth (measured using the T-scan Novus, Tekscan), perceived stress (perceived stress scale), and self-reported oral behaviors (oral behavior checklist – OBC scores) served as covariates.
Results: The GLM predicted 75% of OS variance. Individuals with high SSA had a reduced frequency of correct answers compared to individuals with low SSA when tested at 8 μm [contrast estimate (95% CI): -21.7% (-34.1% — -9.3%); p<0.001] and 24 μm [contrast estimate (95% CI): -13.2% (-25.5% — -1.0%); p=0.029]. OS was affected by participants’ bite force (p=0.026), OBC scores (p<0.001), and stress (p<0.001), but not by the bite force distribution on the testing teeth (p=0.925).
Conclusions: Individuals with high SSA show impaired occlusal sensitivity. OS is mainly driven by SSA, stress, and oral behaviors rather than dental features.