Perception Thresholds for Electrical Stimulation of the Palatal Mucosa

Purpose: To define the normative ranges of the Current Perception Threshold (CPT) of the palatal mucosa and to correlate it with the subjects' attributes. Materials and Methods: A group of 129 informed healthy subjects consented to participate in the study. A Neurometer NS3000 device was used to evaluate the CPTs of the nasopalatine nerve (NPN) and the greater palatine nerve (GPN) by using 2,000-, 250-, and 5-Hz stimulations. After confirming the relationships with regard to gender, age, weight, height, alcohol consumption, duration of sleep, weight percentage of water content, smoking, and CPT, the normative ranges of the CPT measurements were obtained. Results: Correlations were observed between age and CPTs obtained with the 2,000- and 250-Hz stimulations of the GPN. The CPTs of the GPN were higher than those of the NPN. With the exception of the 5-Hz stimulation of the NPN, the CPTs in men were higher than those in women; however, the within- and between-site ratios exhibited no differences between the male and female subjects. No significant effects of smoking and alcohol consumption on CPT were observed. Range analysis revealed an increase in the CPTs as the frequency increased from 5 to 250 to 2,000 Hz. Within-site ratio analysis revealed increasing and spreading CPT ratios in the following order: 250/5 Hz, 2,000/250 Hz, and 2,000/5 Hz. In the order of 5-, 250-, and 2,000-Hz stimulations, decreasing ratios were observed for the between-site ratio analysis. Conclusion: This study provides useful diagnostic criteria for CPTs in the palatal mucosa.