[Orofacial touch and pressure sensitivity in children]

This study assessed the thresholds of orofacial touch and pressure sensation in children and compared them with those in adults. Child subjects who were outpatients of TMDU Dental Hospital and who had no particular systemic diseases other than dental problems, were classified into 4 groups: preschool children (4-5 y, n=26), lower-grade elementary school pupils (6-9 y, n=100), higher-grade elementary school pupils (10-12 y, n=36), and junior high school pupils (13-15 y, n=26). Adult subjects were TMDU students (23-31 y, n=37). The thresholds of touch and pressure sensation were measured with a Semmes-Weinstein pressure aesthesiometer which consisted of 20 filaments with different marking values (Fm). Stimulation was applied with the thinner 10 filaments with lower values ranging from 1.65 to 4.31 Fm (0.0045-2.052 gw). The measurements were carried out on the following 10 points in the orofacial area in all the subjects: the upper lip, gingiva of upper anterior teeth, palate, lower lip, gingiva of lower anterior teeth, buccal mucous membrane, tongue tip, skin above eyebrow, cheek skin and mentum skin. The thresholds in the child subjects were not different from those in the adult subjects on most measurement points, but were significantly different on the gingiva and palate. The lower the age, the lower the thresholds on the gingiva. Since these measurement points are located in the chewing mucous membrane, it is considered that the threshold changes occurred due to histological alterations with growth. It is suggested that the threshold values of orofacial touch and pressure sensation obtained from this study could be used as the standard values for an indicator of the development of oral function and structure in children.