From Periodontal Mechanoreceptors To Chewing Motor Control

Objective: the objective of this critical review is to summarize and update our current knowledge of the structural and functional features of periodontal mechanoreceptors and our understanding of their role in the chewing motor control. Methods: the procedures for electronic searching yielded 580 initial citations. After evaluation, 30 studies were selected. The articles included in the review regarded four types of studies: electrophysiological, biomolecular, critical reviews, and clinical research. Results: the results updated: - the knowledge of the ultrastructural features and mechanotransduction characteristics of the periodontal mechanoreceptors (Iizuka et al. 2009, Rahman et al. 2011; Homna et al. 2012; Chen and Wong 2013) - the adaptation of periodontal mechanoreceptors, during development, to occlusion and load (Umemura et al. 2010) - the role of the sensory feedback arising from periodontal mechanoreceptors on the chewing motor control and on the rhythmogenic properties of the central pattern generator, with particular reference to the power phase of closure (Morquette et al. 2012) - the chewing pattern of patients with unilateral posterior crossbite malocclusion during chewing hard and soft boluses (Piancino MG et al 2006, 2009, 2012). Conclusion: the updated knowledge of the neural network starting from the periodontal mechanoreceptor transduction through the chewing motor control is important for improving our understanding of the functional aspects of occlusion and malocclusions. A deeper understanding of these phenomena, will give answers to clinically important problems and encourage better therapies.