Perioral and dental perception of mechanical stimulus among subjects with and without awareness of bruxism

We studied whether perioral and dental sensitivity to mechanical stimulation is changed in subjects with awareness of bruxism. Tactile detection threshold in the vermilion border of the lower lip and in the upper incisor was determined using calibrated monofilaments (von Frey hairs) and spatial resolution threshold of the lip was determined using a grating orientation task. The tactile detection threshold and the spatial resolution threshold in the perioral region were not significantly different between bruxers (n = 7) and asymptomatic control subjects (n = 13). Neither was the detection threshold for mechanical stimulation of the tooth different between bruxers (n = 6) and asymptomatic controls (n = 6). It is concluded that the tactile sensitivity of perioral region or the tooth is not significantly changed in subjects with awareness of bruxism.