title: Accuracy and reliability of thermal threshold measurement in the chin using heat flux technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurosensory disturbance (NSD) occasionally develops in the chin following dental treatments, and evaluation of the involved nerve damage is important for treatment. The thermal-threshold test is a method of evaluating nerve sensations, but it is not widely used because its accuracy and reliability have not yet been determined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the accuracy and reliability of thermal-threshold measurement of the chin by using the heat-flux technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 19 healthy volunteers (7 women, 12 men), aged 21 to 36 years (mean age +/- SD, 27.2 +/- 4.5 years). The thermal thresholds, including the warm and cold heat-flux thresholds (WHF and CHF, respectively) were measured on the chin, forehead, and neck by using a thermostimulator. To evaluate test-retest reliability, we measured the thermal thresholds on 3 different days (days 1, 3, and 7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The WHF and CHF of the right chin were 460 +/- 165 W/m(2) (mean +/- SD W/m(2)) and 589 +/- 133 W/m(2), respectively, and those of the left chin were 446 +/- 112 W/m(2) and 576 +/- 147 W/m(2), respectively. The thermal thresholds of the right and left chin were significantly correlated (R = 0.89, P < .001). Thermal-threshold measurement was more accurate in the case of the chin than in the case of the neck. The thermal thresholds measured over the 3 days varied very little (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.80-0.81), indicating high test-retest reliability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The heat-flux technique is accurate and highly reliable. Therefore, it may be a useful method for determining the thermal threshold of the chin.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Teppei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Yuhji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kabasawa
authors.forename: Suga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashikawa
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jinno
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Omura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002680:Chin / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004056:Differential Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D013821:Thermometers; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult