Assessment of Occlusal Sensitivity to Articulating Foils in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders Compared to Healthy Controls: A Case-Control Study

Occlusal sensitivity refers to the ability to detect fine objects placed between opposing teeth during biting or in maximum intercuspation. Two main approaches are commonly used to assess occlusal sensitivity and the periodontal sensory threshold: one measures the minimal detectable force using monofilaments, while the other evaluates the sensitivity threshold to interocclusal thickness with articulating foils. In healthy individuals, occlusal sensitivity ranges from 2 µm to 77 µm (average 24 µm) and tends to decrease with age. Periodontal mechanoreceptors are primarily responsible for this function, although studies indicate that other mechanoreceptors may contribute, especially in individuals with implants or prostheses. Evidence suggests that patients with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) may have reduced occlusal sensitivity and show less adaptability to occlusal interferences than healthy subjects. This observational case-control study assesses differences in occlusal sensitivity between patients with pain-related TMD and healthy controls. The study will also explore the relationship between sensory sensitivity, psychosomatic characteristics, and the clinical manifestations of TMD. The TMD group will include patients from the Department of Removable Prosthodontics and the Department of Oral Medicine at the University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine, diagnosed with pain-related TMD (including myalgia, referred myofascial pain, and/or arthralgia) according to the DC/TMD criteria. The control group will consist of healthy volunteers matched for age and sex, with no neurological alterations in sensory function. The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine and will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants will receive detailed information about the study and provide written informed consent before participation. The experimental procedure will test occlusal sensitivity by assessing the ability of participants to detect different thicknesses of articulating foils, applied in randomised order between upper and lower molars, including a sham test. Participants will report whether they detect the foil, and their responses will be recorded for subsequent statistical analysis.