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Assessment of Spatial Lingual Tactile Sensitivity using a Gratings Orientation Test
Published on: September 17, 2021
New method for determining surface roughness of tongue
Naoko Uemori1, Yasuaki Kakinoki, Junichi Karaki
1Division of Oral Care and Rehabilitation, Department of Control of Physical Functions, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Gerodontology
|June 30, 2011
Summary
This study quantitatively assessed lingual papillae atrophy in elderly individuals using tongue surface roughness. Results show significant differences in roughness, indicating varying degrees of atrophy in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Oral Medicine
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Aging is associated with changes in oral tissues, including lingual papillae.
- Quantifying lingual papillae atrophy is crucial for understanding age-related oral health.
- Previous methods for assessing lingual papillae morphology lacked quantitative precision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively evaluate the degree of lingual papillae atrophy in elderly individuals.
- To establish a reliable method for assessing lingual papillae morphology in aging populations.
- To compare lingual surface roughness between elderly subjects and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative method using silicone dental impressions to measure lingual surface roughness was employed.
- One hundred eighty-two elderly subjects from nursing homes and 20 healthy adults were studied.
- Elderly subjects were classified into 'Normal', 'Smooth', and 'Rough' groups based on lingual papillae atrophy.
Main Results:
- The average roughness value for controls was 65.0 μm.
- Elderly subjects showed significantly different average roughness values: Normal (73.9 μm), Smooth (42.2 μm), and Rough (94.1 μm).
- The 'Smooth' group exhibited less roughness than controls, while the 'Rough' group showed greater roughness.
Conclusions:
- The developed impression technique is simple, reliable, and suitable for routine evaluation of lingual papillae atrophy.
- This method allows for precise quantification of lingual papillae morphology in elderly individuals.
- The findings highlight significant variations in lingual papillae atrophy among the elderly population.
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