EXCITABILITY IN TERMS OF TIME OF THE DENTAL NERVOUS ELEMENTS

¹ Institute of Physiology, University of Chile, School of Dentistry, Santiago, Chile.

Excitability in terms of time of the intradental nerve supply was studied. The following results are obtained:

The average chronaxie in normal teeth is 0.16 mseg., a value which permits classification of the intradental nerve fibers among the elements of high functional differentiation. The chronaxie decreases from the anterior to the posterior teeth in the upper jaw (0.25 mseg. first incisors to 0.15 mseg. second molars). This difference is statistically significant.

A comparative study of excitability between normal teeth and those presenting pulpitis was made. No significant difference was observed between both groups.

Strength-duration curves of the intradental nerve fibers were determined. They are of simple development in all teeth. The homologous utilization times decrease from the first incisors to the second molars.

A critical experimental study of methods of excitability measurements in common use in dental practice was performed.