Biomaterial Database

Spatial summation of pre-pain and pain in human teeth. 1985

A C Brown, and W J Beeler, and A C Kloka, and R W Fields

Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Department of Endodontology, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health Sciences University, 611 SW Campus Drive, Portland, OR 97201 U.S.A.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the relation between the sensations of pain and 'pre-pain' evoked by stimulation of teeth in human subjects. Electrical pulses of progressively increasing amplitude, generated by a computer-controlled stimulator, were applied to 1 or 2 teeth, and the subjects responded by indicating the nature of the resulting sensation. Pre-pain and pain could be readily and rapidly distinguished by all 11 subjects (response latency about 0.4 sec). Both sensations had stable thresholds with relatively small variance (S.D. 10-15% of threshold value) for a given subject. Subjects characterized the stimuli as indifferent or unpleasant, localized, and brief. By using special stimulation strategies (termed 'optimal trajectories') for exciting 2 teeth simultaneously, spatial summation for pre-pain was demonstrated in most subjects and for pain in almost all subjects. Spatial summation of pre-pain resulted in pain rather than in more intense pre-pain. These results are consistent with both the dual modality (separate afferent fibers for pre-pain and pain) and the single modality hypotheses (single type of afferent fibers) of tooth pulp sensibility, but favor single modality innervation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D010146	Pain	An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS.	Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000344	Afferent Pathways	Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a peripheral part toward a nerve center.	Afferent Pathway,Pathway, Afferent,Pathways, Afferent
D001339	Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic	NERVE FIBERS which project from the central nervous system to AUTONOMIC GANGLIA. In the sympathetic division most preganglionic fibers originate with neurons in the intermediolateral column of the SPINAL CORD, exit via ventral roots from upper thoracic through lower lumbar segments, and project to the paravertebral ganglia; there they either terminate in SYNAPSES or continue through the SPLANCHNIC NERVES to the prevertebral ganglia. In the parasympathetic division the fibers originate in neurons of the BRAIN STEM and sacral spinal cord. In both divisions the principal transmitter is ACETYLCHOLINE but peptide cotransmitters may also be released.	Autonomic Fiber, Preganglionic,Fiber, Preganglionic Autonomic,Fibers, Preganglionic Autonomic,Preganglionic Autonomic Fiber,Preganglionic Autonomic Fibers
D012677	Sensation	The process in which specialized SENSORY RECEPTOR CELLS transduce peripheral stimuli (physical or chemical) into NERVE IMPULSES which are then transmitted to the various sensory centers in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Sensory Function,Organoleptic,Function, Sensory,Functions, Sensory,Sensations,Sensory Functions