Abstract
Purpose: The present report aims to provide some clinical index of human palatal mucosa for stress-bearing ability under the denture base, through the measurement of blood flow.
Method: Blood flow was measured repeatedly 4 times on different days in 9 adults with normal dentition, at each of 47 points on the palate, by using two sets of laser flowmeters. For detailed analysis of the obtained data, the measuring points were classified into 4 portions: central, frontal, lateral, and posterior, according to general anatomical characteristics. The measurements were carried out with or without some compression, such as 0.1 and 0.2 mm, on the palate, by using a specifically designed measuring stent made from a heat-vacuum-formed acrylic sheet and self-curing resin.
Results and Conclusion: 1. Blood flow at rest for the same subject showed good reproducibility in repeated tests on different days. 2. No significant difference in blood flow at rest was observed between the sexes. 3. The blood flow of the palate was smallest at the central portion, and greatest at the frontal portion. 4. The decreasing ratio of blood flow by compression was largest at the central portion, and was followed by, in order of decreasing ratios, frontal, lateral, posterior portions. 5. The decreasing ratio of blood flow was greater at 0.2 mm compression than at 0.1 mm compression.
