Jaw motor inputs originating from osseointegrated oral implants.

Jaw motor inputs from endosseous oral implants have been investigated to a limited extent. Observations of jaw muscle reflexes in edentulous patients rehabilitated by means of implants do not prove that they originate from the implants unless the stimuli are properly defined. Few studies have isolated inputs, such as electrical of mechanical stimuli, to make sure that they are conveyed through the implants. Even under these conditions one should be aware that such stimuli can trigger distant receptors. The most striking difference is that tapping an upper jaw implant in a fully edentulous patient does not give lead to a silent period in the jaw closing muscles. At the clinical level the changes in neuromuscular reflexes do not lead to significant problems.