The application of electrical stimulation based on the ciliary reflex system for the combined treatment of the patients presenting with traumatic mandibular nerve neuropathy following dental implantation

The authors describe a new method for the rehabilitation of the patients in the early postoperative period following dental implantation in the mandible that was accompanied by the development of traumatic mandibular nerve neuropathy. All the patients were treated using standard therapy. Those in the study group underwent in addition electrical stimulation based on the ciliary reflex system with the application of bipolar pulsed currents generated in a Miomodel-10 device. The electrical stimulation based on the ciliary reflex system is designed to influence extracranially the peripheral component and the nuclear apparatus of the trigeminal nerve. The reflex arc of the ciliary reflex involves afferents of the trigeminal nerve, efferents of the facial nerve, nuclei of these cranial nerves, and neurons of reticular formation of the brain stem. Electrical stimulation based on the ciliary reflex system includes symmetric application of bipolar pulsed currents to the region of projection of the trigeminal nerve I, II, and III branches and Gasseri ganglion that gives rise to the first sensitive neurons whose peripheral dendrites form three major branches of the trigeminal nerve, viz. ophthalmic nerve (n. ophthalmicus), maxillary nerve (n. maxillaris), and mandibular nerve (n. mandibularis). In other words, electrical stimulation based on the ciliary reflex system acts extracranially over a large area,, eliminates pain syndrome by acting through neural conductors, improves blood circulation in these regions, and thereby facilitates the recovery of conductance through the nervous fibers of the mandibular nerve. These findings indicate that the application of bipolar pulsed currents by the local method and by electrical stimulation based on the ciliary reflex system promotes normalization of the functional activity of the mandibular nerve, activates microcirculation and neuroplastic processes, exerts analgesic, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and neurotrophic actions.

electrical stimulation, ciliary reflex, dental implantation, mandibular neuritis