Do sensation differences exist between dental implants and natural teeth?

This summary is based on the article published in Clinical Oral Implant Research: Do sensation differences exist between dental implants and natural teeth? A meta-analysis (November 2014)

Nobuaki Higaki, Takaharu Goto, Yuichi Ishida, Megumi Watanabe, Yoritoki Tomotake, Tetsuo Ichikawa

Context

Mastication is an essential function for processing foods into a bolus in the oral cavity. ^1-3

• This behavior is controlled in a coordinated manner by the stomatognathic organs and regulated by the central pattern generator in the brain stem. ^4-5
• Moreover, the oral sensory-motor system, including periodontal sensation, is thought to affect the oral motor behaviors and to be concerned with the “quality of mastication.”
• The osseointegrated dental implants lack periodontal ligaments, which are extremely sensitive tactile sensors attached to natural teeth.
• Implant sensation should be an important consideration in occlusal contact designs for implant-supported prostheses, because overstressing the implants may result in implant failures.
• However, clinical evidence to support this element, specifically the sensation differences between dental implants and natural teeth, is not enough, as the following two issues are unclear: if sensations are felt by patients with osseointegrated dental implants and if oral sensations influence mastication.

Purpose of the Review

The purpose of this systematic review was to survey evidence pertaining to the sensation differences between natural teeth and osseointegrated dental implants.

Key Findings

• The meta-analysis suggested that both tactile sensibility and thickness discrimination thresholds of implants were significantly higher than those of natural teeth.
• This meta-analysis reconfirms that sensation differences between dental implants and natural teeth exist.

References

1. Linden, P., Tippett, D., Johnston, J., Siebens, A. & French, J. (1989) Bolus position at swallow on set in normal adults: preliminary observations. Dysphagia 4: 146–150.
2. Krall, E., Hayes, C. & Garcia, R. (1998). How dentition status and masticatory: function affect nutrient intake. The Journal of the American Dental Association 129: 1261–1269.
3. Anderson, K., Throckmorton, G.S., Buschang, P.H. & Hayasaki, H. (2002). The effects of bolus hardness on masticatory kinematics. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 29: 689–696.
4. Nakamura, Y. & Katakura, N. (1995) Generation of masticatory rhythm in the brain-stem. Neuroscience Research 23: 1–19.
5. Fay, R.A. & Norgren, R. (1997) Identification of rat brainstem multisynaptic connections to the oral motor nuclei using pseudorabies virus I. Masticatory muscle motor system. Brain Research Reviews 25: 255–275.