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Updated: May 6, 2026
A Postoperative Evaluation Guideline for Computer-Assisted Reconstruction of the Mandible
Published on: January 28, 2020
The Orofacial Somatosensory Changes of the Edentulous Mandible After Full-Arch Implant Surgery: A 6-Month Follow-up
Purpose:
To evaluate somatosensory function changes and recovery time in patients with an edentulous mandible after full-arch flap implant surgery using a standardized quantitative sensory testing (QST) protocol.
Materials And Methods:
Fourteen patients with edentulous mandibles underwent full-arch alveolar flap implant surgery, with three or four implants placed in each case. A QST battery-including cold detection threshold (CDT), warmth detection threshold (WDT), thermal sensory limen (TSL), paradoxical heat sensation (PHS), cold pain threshold (CPT), heat pain threshold (HPT), mechanical detection threshold (MDT), mechanical pain threshold (MPT), wind-up ratio (WUR), vibration detection threshold (VDT), and pressure pain threshold (PPT)-was performed at the skin of the mental region (mentum region) and at the keratinized gingiva of the right canine (mucosa region). The QST was performed before surgery and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery; data were calculated following the standard guideline.
Results:
The WUR at 3 months postsurgery was higher than that before surgery and at 1 month postsurgery (3 months = 3.81 ± 2.54; presurgery = 2.19 ± 1.34; 1 month = 1.85 ± 1.27; P ≤ .032). The CDT at 1 month postsurgery was lower than that before surgery and at 3 and 6 months postsurgery (1 month = -1.57 ± 0.70°C; presurgery = -1.01 ± 0.45°C; 3 months = -1.12 ± 0.50°C; 6 months = -1.04 ± 0.42°C; P ≤ .029). Z-score transformation was performed for each QST variable with the data before surgery as baseline. In both mucosal and mentum regions, the percentage of Z-scores below -1.96 before surgery and above 1.96 at 6 months postsurgery was lower than 5%; the percentage of Z-scores below -1.96 at 1 month postsurgery was 6.36% and 7.79% in the mucosal and mentum regions, respectively; the percentage of Z-scores below -1.96 at 3 months postsurgery was 6.36% and 7.14% in the mucosal and mentum regions, respectively.
Conclusions:
Somatosensory abnormalities were detected in patients with edentulous mandibles after full-arch flap implant surgery (as evaluated by a comprehensive QST battery) even with no subjective symptoms, and somatosensory function was recovered after 6 months.
