Finger receptor dysfunction in dental technicians exposed to high-frequency vibration.

ABSTRACT

The effects of high-frequency vibration (up to 40 kHz) on digital nerve function were studied in ten dental technicians and ten age-matched referents. Nerve conduction velocities, including fractionated antidromic measurements over the carpal tunnel, showed no difference between the groups. In the group of dental technicians the difference between the response latency of the mechanical and electric stimuli in the median nerve distally on the fingers of the right hand was slightly higher than in the reference group, and therefore distal nerve or receptor dysfunction was suggested. Vibration warming and cooling thresholds were significantly increased and thus revealed damage to both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers in the fingers of subjects exposed to high-frequency vibration.