Oral stereognosis related to the use of complete dentures: a literature review
Paulo Henrique Orlato Rossetti
Wellington Cardoso Bonachela
Leylha Maria Oliveira Nunes
Oral stereognosis is the neurosensorial ability of the oral mucous membrane to recognize and discriminate the forms of objects in the oral cavity. The sensorial ability of the tongue, lips, thumbs and index fingers is greater than that of other parts of the body. Therefore, a dentist's understanding of oral stereognosis is important to understand the expectations of patients during complete denture treatment. A MEDLINE literature search within the periods of 1944 to 2003 and with the keywords “oral” “stereognosis” “complete” and “dentures” found twenty articles. Articles concerning sensory function, test type, oral-motor diseases, dentate status (including osseointegrated implants) and patient satisfaction with complete dentures were considered. After reviewing the literature, we have reached a number of conclusions: 1)A lack of standardization exists in stereognostic testing; 2) Stereognostic ability diminishes with age (number of correct responses and longer times for recognition); 3) Stereognosis can improve with training; 4) Degree of satisfaction is not related to a high or low oral perception level; 5) The use of complete dentures during the rehabilitation of patients with neuromotor disorders enhances oral sensation; 6) and implant-supported prosthesis provides stereognostic levels near that of natural dentition.
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