Rajat R. Khajuria

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Oral stereognosis basically is the ability of our sensory mechanism to recognize the shape of objects placed in oral cavity. Subjects and methods: This study was carried out on 100 selected patients.The patients were divided into two different groups. One group being dentulous and the other being edentulous. Four types of different test samples were cured in heat cured resin and placed in patients mouth. The geometric designs were drawn on the chart paper and marked as 1-4. A time period of 1 min was provided to each patient for the identification on the chart followed by gap of 30 s for the next test sample to be placed in the mouth. A score of 5 was given for each correct identification, score of 3 for no identification, and score of 1 for wrong identification of sample. Results: In Inter group comparison, group 1 recorded mean values of 15 ± 0.43 where as group 2 recorded 18 ± 0.64. In intragroup comparison of group 1, males recorded mean score of 16 ± 0.33 where as females recorded mean score of 14 ±0.13. In intragroup comparison of group 2, males recorded mean score of 19 ± 0.33 where as females recorded mean score of 18 ±0.13. The data was found to be statistically significant. (p<0.001) Conclusion: Oral stereognosis predicts the prognosis of the treatment provided. Edentulous patients have decreased stereognostic activity. Oral stereognostic ability was found to be less in edentulous patients than dentulous patients. In dentulous patients, no significant difference between males and females was found but in edentulous, significant differences do exist between male and female population of Jammu region.