Verification of the reliability of current perception threshold and pain threshold testing by application of an electrical current stimulus to mandibular mucosa in young adults.

Abstract

There is little evidence regarding the reliability of CPT and PT measurements to gauge mandibular perception. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the test-retest reliability of CPT and PT values obtained from the mandibular oral mucosa and to test the bilateral differences in CPT and PT values obtained from the mental foramen region and buccal shelf region by a single operator. CPT and PT values were obtained from the mental foramen and buccal shelf regions of 20 volunteers (10 males and 10 females; average age: 26.4±2.6years) by using the Neurometer CPT/C® device to deliver electrical stimulation. Relative and absolute reliabilities were confirmed over two measurements of CPT and PT over a 7- to 10-day measurement interval. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for CPT and PT table obtained from the mental foramen region were >0.8, while most ICC for the buccal shelf region were <0.8. Standard error of measurement, minimal detectable change and Bland-Altman analyses showed that the CPT and PT measurements had no systematic error and could serve as useful methods. At all frequencies, the bilateral difference in CPT and PT values at the mental foramen and buccal shelf region was not significant. CPT and PT measurements using a custom-made device that applied an electrical current to the mental foramen region have appropriate reliability to assess intra-oral sensitivity to electrical stimulation in young adults.