Advances in Dental Research, Vol 13, 120-129, Copyright © 1999 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Osseoperception: sensory function and proprioception
I. Klineberg and G. Murray
Neuromuscular and Orofacial Pain Research Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital Dental Clinical School, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia.
Tooth loss and its replacement have significant functional and psychosocial
consequences. The removal of intra-dental and periodontal mechanoreception
accompanying tooth loss changes the fine proprioceptive control of jaw
function and influences the precision of magnitude, direction, and rate of
occlusal load application. With the loss of all teeth, complete denture
restoration is a compromise replacement which only partially restores
function. Implant-supported prostheses restore jaw function more
appropriately, with improved psychophysiological discriminatory ability and
oral stereognosis. Osseoperception is defined as depending on central
influences from corollary discharge from cortico-motor commands to jaw
muscles, and contributions from peripheral mechanoreceptors in orofacial
and temporomandibular tissues. The processing of central influences is
considered with the recognition of the plasticity of neuromotor mechanisms
that occurs to accommodate the loss of dental and periodontal inputs.
