Stress and its role in the dentin hypersensitivity in rats.

INTRODUCTION: The perception of pain varies individually. Chronic stress leads to analgesia. The use of animal chronic mild stress model to mimic human condition was previously developed and now applied in the evaluation of pain perception in rats with dentin hypersensitivity (DH). AIMS: Using DH model induced by dentin erosion (DE) mediated by acidic solution, the present study aimed the evaluation of the interaction of chronic stress and pain induced by DH in rats with DE. METHODS: DH was induced by ad libitum 30-day intake of acidic solution. Stress was induced by the New York subway model. Body weight was weekly taken, during treatment. Groups WO (water, no stress), WS (water and stress), EO (acidic solution, no stress) and ES (acidic solution, stress) were submitted to treatments. RESULTS: After 30 days, all groups were submitted to DH test assessed by cold water stimuli in the labial surface of molars, for 5s, and the rats responses were scored as grades 0, 0.5, 1, 2, or 3. After euthanasia, blood was taken to obtain the levels of corticosterone, stomachs were observed in fresh preparations, kidneys and livers were submitted to histological evaluation. Open field model supported stress evaluation, as did corticosterone analysis. Stressed animals showed significant increase in pain perception and a decrease in locomotion frequency, tending to be more frequent in the periphery of the arena, corroborating stressed behavior and the need of protection as a pain relief. Corticosterone levels were increased in the stressed rats with dentin erosion and also corroborate present findings. Finally, reduction in weight gain was impaired in stressed group with dentin erosion. CONCLUSION: The animal model enabled the evaluation of how chronic mild stress interfered in DH pain perception.

Influence of implant-retained silicone oculo-palpebral prosthesis on stress distribution: a pilot study using a photoelastic model.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the behavior of stresses surrounding orbital model implants subjected to a load of a silicone oculo-palpebral prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A photoelastic model was constructed mimicking the orbital cavity of an adult patient who underwent left orbital resection. Two 3.75 × 5-mm extraoral implants with 3.75 × 5.25-mm magnetic connectors were placed in the model to anchor a silicone oculo-palpebral prosthesis. The stress generated by prosthesis retention was evaluated using photoelasticity at 15, 30, and 60 minutes. The polariscope images were analyzed qualitatively at five areas surrounding the implants. These same areas were analyzed quantitatively using Matlab software based on the RGB color pattern. Data were compared with the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Using fringe localization, the qualitative analysis demonstrated that the area between the implants had the greatest stress. The quantitative analysis showed that the peri-implant stress increased significantly in proportion to the increase in prosthesis retention time. CONCLUSION: The oculo-palpebral prosthesis generated stress around the implants, and the stress intensity was directly proportional to the duration of use.