The Psychophysical Assessments of Tactile, Temperature and Electrical Perception for Implants With Metal Prosthetic Surfaces

Tactile function and thermal perception are 2 primary functions of oral structures. Implants without periodontal ligaments and pulp might fail to sense tactile and temperature changes. This study aimed to investigate implants' tactile, thermal, and electrical perception by detailed psychophysical assessments. A total of 48 patients with single implant restoration were recruited. Mechanical (5 intensities), cold (4 temperatures), and electrical stimulation were, respectively, applied to implants and natural teeth, and the psychophysical results were recorded with a visual analog scale and compared between implants and natural teeth. For tactile perception, at low and medium forces, implants were significantly poorer than natural teeth (P ＜ .01), but at the largest force, there were no significant differences (P > .05). Regarding thermal perception, thermal changes on implants could be detected although the signals were weaker when compared with natural teeth (P ＜ .01). Implants were less sensitive to electrical stimulation than natural teeth (P ＜ .01). Even though there is no periodontium and pulp, dental implants could perceive the mechanical, thermal, and electrical stimulation weakly.