title: Somatosensory Evoked Potentials of Inferior Alveolar Nerve: confirmation of a possible non-invasive neurophysiological approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) may represent a non-invasive method to evaluate the sensory nerve function in the maxillofacial region. The aim of this work is to confirm the feasibility of a technique, previously reported in the literature, and the data previously obtained.
  
  
  METHODS
  SEPs were obtained following electrical stimulation (square wave pulses 0.2 millisecond [ms] in duration, 4 to 6.5 mA, 0.7/second repetition rate, 200 averages) of the gum at the mental foramen level, in the IAN region, via a new designed type of intraoral surface electrodes and recorded from the contralateral central scalp sites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We recognized waveforms of sufficient quality and consistently recorded a "W"-shaped response. Peak latencies of waves were at 14, 20, 27, 34 and 43 ms respectively. One side of the lower lip can be compared with the contralateral side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IAN SEPs, obtained with the present technique, may represent an objective, non-invasive, and reliable way of testing sensory nerve function in the maxillofacial region.
authors.affiliation: School of dentistry, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.affiliation: Dept. Geriatrics, Neurosciences, Head and Neck surgery, & Orthopedics, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome - Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Milan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luigetti
authors.affiliation: Dept. Geriatrics, Neurosciences, Head and Neck surgery, & Orthopedics, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romanello
authors.affiliation: Dept. Geriatrics, Neurosciences, Head and Neck surgery, & Orthopedics, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gnoni
authors.affiliation: Dept. Geriatrics, Neurosciences, Head and Neck surgery, & Orthopedics, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Virdis
authors.affiliation: School of dentistry, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cordaro
authors.affiliation: Dept. Geriatrics, Neurosciences, Head and Neck surgery, & Orthopedics, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome - IRCCS S. Raffaele-Pisana, Rome and Casa di Cura S. Raffaele Cassino, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Rossini
mesh_terms: D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Inferior alveolar nerve; Neurophysiology; Odontostomatologya; Somato-sensory evoked potentials