Reliability of the measurement of current perception thresholds in the palatal mucosa

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of applying measurement of the Current Perception Threshold (CPT) to the oral mucosa. METHODS: Forty healthy volunteers (20 males and 20 females; mean age, 29.5 +/- 5.1 years) were recruited for the study. CPT measurements were performed over the nasopalatine nerve area and greater palatine nerve area with 5,250 and 2000 Hz electrical stimulation using the Neurometer NS3000. The CPTs were measured on three separate days, and each measurement was carried out once a day by a single operator. RESULTS: Each of the electrical stimulations of 5,250 and 2000 Hz had a specific CPT. There were no significant differences in the CPT values measured over the three days. The CPTs were lower in the females than in the males. There were no significant differences in the CPTs in the greater palatine nerve area between the right and the left side. No order effect was observed on the CPTs in the greater palatine nerve area of either side in the first and second measurements. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the CPT measurements was as high as 0.80. CONCLUSION: It was concluded based on the high reliability of the measurements obtained, that CPT measurement can be applied to the oral mucosa.