Sensation evoked by bipolar intrapulpal stimulation in man

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Bipolar intrapulpal stimulation was applied to human teeth using the same procedure as in animal experiments. The effects of variation of stimulus parameters on the quality of sensation were studied. A prepain sensation existed which cannot be explained by diffusion of the stimulus to periodontal tissues. When the intensity of stimulation was increased, the prepain sensation was gradually replaced by a pinprick sensation. With long, high intensity stimulation, an acute, long lasting, very painful sensation appeared. To evoke a pinprick sensation, the best stimulation seems to be a 50 ms train (0.5 ms, 300 Hz, 0.5 mA). Longer train duration and a higher current intensity were necessary to evoke a long lasting, acute, very painful sensation. Since the exclusively A.delta. and C nerve fiber content of the dental pulp is well documented, and since it is possible to avoid current diffusion outside the dental pulp cavity, the tooth pulp implantation seems to be a good technic for studying pain, as long as the investigator uses adequate stimulation.