A STUDY ON THE PRESSORECEPTIVE SENSIBILITY OF THE TOOTH

¹ Institute of Physiology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

A new esthesiometer for general use for excitability measurements of pressoreceptors is described.

A study of the pressoreceptive sensibility of human teeth is made with the following results: (1) The average threshold value to pressure of teeth is 2.523 Gm., a value which permits the classification of the teeth among the sensorial structures of high sensitivity. (2) The thresholds increase significantly from the anterior to the posterior teeth in the maxilla (0.948 Gm. first incisor to 4.875 Gm. first molar). A similar increase is observed in the mandible. (3) The thresholds of pulpless teeth are significantly higher (57 per cent) as compared with normal ones, the measurement of pressoreceptive sensibility thus providing the practitioner with a weapon for diagnosis. (4) Evidence is given for the existence of intradental as well as periodontal pressoreceptors.