A Clinical Study of the Secretory Function of Minor Salivary Gland in Xerostomia

Evaluation by Using Periotoron

Abstract

When there is a reduction of salivary flow, it is appropriate to measure the flow rate of whole saliva. However, the flow rate of whole saliva occasionally has conflicted with a dry mouth feeling. The reason for conflict finding is considered to be that the flow rate of whole saliva can not be evaluated without examining the secretory function of minor salivary gland.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the secretory function of minor salivary gland which correlates with the flow rate of whole saliva and pathological findings of the minor salivary gland in the lip and palate. The examined subjects were 20 female patients with oral dryness. The measurement of unstimulated whole saliva and lip biopsy were carried out on all patients, and the unstimulated salivary flow rate was under 1.0ml/10min. The secretory function of minor salivary gland was evaluated with Periotoron^®.
Results suggested that the secretory function of minor salivary gland using periotoron^® correlated with pathological findings of lip biopsy.