PRESSURE-PAIN THRESHOLDS IN ORAL CAVITY IN MAN

Pressure-pain thresholds of the oral mucoperiosteum of ten subjects were measured on four occasions using a hand-held algometer. These thresholds varied significantly between individuals but not in the same individual on different occasions. The effects of rate of application of the stimulus and tissue thickness on the pressure pain threshold were assessed. The depth of mucosal indentation at 450 g was taken as a measure of mucosal thickness and this value was obtained using a force/distance probe. Both rate of application and tissue thickness were found to influence the pressure pain threshold considerably. When these two factors were considered together they were found to have a more significant effect on the pain threshold than when they were considered separately. This effect varied from subject to subject. A uniform rate of application of the stimulus does not therefore necessarily guarantee the control of this factor when pressure pain thresholds of different individuals are being compared. © 1969.