Response characteristics of the cat somatosensory cortex following the mechanical stimulation to non-vital and vital canine

Patients sometimes complain that non-vital teeth after root canal treatment (RCT) are paresthesia compared with vital teeth, and previous psychological studies on the tactile sensibility of non-vital teeth remained controversial. In the present study, intrinsic signal optical imaging, which served as an objective tool, was employed to compare the cortex response characteristics following forces applied to the cat non-vital and vital canines. Based on the evoked cortical responses, the response threshold, signal strength, spatial pattern, temporal dynamics and the preference of force direction, they were not significantly different between vital and non-vital canines. It seemed that the tactile sensibility of vital and non-vital teeth was comparable at the cortical response level, and pulpal receptors were not concerned in tactile function.