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Experimental low-level jaw clenching inhibits temporal summation evoked by electrical stimulation in healthy human
Hiroaki Tada1, Tetsurou Torisu1, Mihoko Tanaka1
1Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
Objective:
To examine the effect of low-level jaw clenching on temporal summation in healthy volunteers.
Design:
In 18 healthy volunteers, the pain intensities evoked at the masseter muscle and the hand palm by the first and last stimuli in a train of repeated electrical stimuli (0.3 or 2.0 Hz) were rated using 0-100mm visual analogue scales (VAS), in order to evaluate temporal summation before and after three types of jaw-muscle tasks: low-level jaw clenching, repetitive gum chewing and mandibular rest position. A set of concentric surface electrodes with different diameters (small and large) was used for the electrical stimulation.
Results:
The temporal summation evoked by the large diameter electrode with 2.0 Hz stimulation decreased significantly both on the masseter and the hand after low-level clenching (P ≤ 0.03), but did not show any significant change after the other tasks (P > 0.23). The VAS score of the first stimulation did not show any significant changes after low-level clenching (P > 0.57).
Conclusions:
Experimental low-level jaw clenching can inhibit pain sensitivity, especially temporal summation. Low-level jaw clenching can modify pain sensitivity, most likely through the central nervous system. The findings suggest that potential harmful low-level jaw clenching or tooth contacting could continue despite painful symptoms, e.g., temporomandibular disorders.
