Evaluation of the Psychological Effect of Changes in the Oral Environment

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the possibility of assessing the emotional state as it is influenced by changes in the oral environment through the use of the Emotion Spectrum Analysis Method (ESAM).Materials and Methods: Comfortable experimental palatal plates (PP) and uncomfortable palatal plates (D−PP) were worn by 10 subjects with normal dentition. Electroencephalograms (EEG) of five subjects who sensed discomfort (D+) and of five subjects who did not sense discomfort (D−) while wearing PP were recorded before and while wearing both types of palatal plates with the subjects' eyes closed according to the International 10-20 Standard. The EEGs were analyzed chronologically using the emotional index based on ESAM, and the analyzed data were compared between the two groups. In addition, the subjects' sensations were evaluated by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and compared between the two groups.Results: The negative index (D−) significantly increased while the positive index (D+) significantly decreased while wearing the palatal plates. The tendency was clearer with D−PP, which had greater discomfort, and this result corresponded to the sensory evaluation reflected in the VAS score. The sensory evaluation seemed to correspond to the ESAM index that measured the influence of the changes in the oral environment caused by the palatal plates.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that it is possible to use ESAM to evaluate the psychological effects caused by changes in the oral environment.