Objective evaluation of oral and maxillofacial sensory nerves.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to recommend a set of methods for the clinical objective evaluation of neurosensory nerves and to establish criteria for the clinical objective evaluation of oral and maxillofacial regions in a Chinese population.


METHODS
Sensations in the oral and maxillofacial regions of 35 healthy subjects were objectively and quantitatively evaluated by means of two-point discrimination, static light touch, brush directional stroke, and thermal discrimination.


RESULTS
Criteria for the clinical neurosensory evaluation were established for the sensations of the oral and maxillofacial regions of healthy Chinese.


CONCLUSIONS
Two-point discrimination, static light touch, brush directional discrimination, and thermal discrimination can provide objective, quantitative information for the evaluation of sensory nerve impairment. These convenient methods represent the important tools in the diagnosis and treatment of sensory nerve impairment in oral and maxillofacial regions.
Chen
N
N
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, P. R. China.
Yuan
Y
Y
Cheung
L K
LK
Huang
K M
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries