title: The effect of oral submucous fibrosis on oral stereognostic ability. A preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at evaluating the effect of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) on oral stereognostic ability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 14 patients having OSMF with no tongue involvement or any restriction in tongue mobility; the control group comprised 15 patients free from any oral symptoms. All patients in both groups had at least 26 teeth present and were of ages 20 to 40 years. Oral stereognostic ability was evaluated on the basis of correct recognition responses to test pieces of 12 geometric forms made from raw carrot. Of the 12 test pieces, six were large, and six were small. Test pieces were placed on the dorsum of the tongue near the apex. The test was performed three times by each patient in both groups, and no time limit was set for the identification of the test pieces. Responses were recorded using the three-point scale method. Student's t-test was used to calculate significant differences between the means of the two groups. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of the total score was comparable between the study group and the control group, with no statistical significant difference observed. Test pieces with corners (mainly triangle) were recognized more correctly than those without corners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicated that the oral stereognostic ability of the study group did not significantly differ from that of the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, India. komalladha@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Komal G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Ladha
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D013236:Stereognosis / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult