Abstract
Objectives:
In order to develop a simplified chair-side method for evaluating saliva biomechanics with high reproducibility, a newly developed "capillary tube method" and the conventional laboratory technique were compared.
Methods:
The most suitable capillary tubes and measuring conditions were determined by comparing seven types of capillary tube. The suction height was measured (every 5 seconds for 60 seconds) for two types of artificial saliva (100% and 50% salivert®) and purified water (control).
For the experiment, 11 types of artificial saliva comprising various organic and inorganic ingredients were used. The suction height was measured (every 5 seconds for 30 seconds) with two types of capillary tube. As for conventional laboratory measurements, spinability was evaluated with a thread-forming property meter (NEVA METER®) and viscosity was evaluated with an ultrasonic viscometer (VISCOSTICK®).
The correlation coefficients for the relationships among "suction height", "spinability" and "viscosity" were then analyzed.
Results:
Two types of capillary tube (∅ 0.26 mm and ∅0.93 mm) were the most sensitive to the changes in the biomechanical characteristics of artificial saliva. The differences in suction height were most marked at 15 seconds.
The concentration of organic ingredients correlated negatively with "suction height" and correlated positively with "spinnability" and "viscosity". Weaker correlations were seen for inorganic ingredients. There was a significantly negative relationship between "suction height" and "viscosity" (P<0.01).
Conclusion:
Suitable conditions for the newly developed method were identified. The results suggest that this novel chair-side method may be used in place of viscosity measurement.
