Oral mucosal status and major salivary gland function

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-4220(90)90177-T· OSTI ID:6644874

Wolff, A; Fox, P C; Ship, J A; Atkinson, J C; Macynski, A A; Baum, B J ^[1]

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1. National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, MD (USA)

Normal salivary function is considered to be critical for the maintenance of healthy oral mucosa. However, few studies have examined mucosal changes in patients with objectively documented salivary gland performance. In the present report, the mucosal status of 298 subjects being evaluated in a dry mouth clinic was assessed. A complete oral examination was performed and unstimulated and stimulated salivary samples were collected separately from the parotid and submandibular/sublingual glands. Data were analyzed according to diagnosis and salivary output after the assignment of an oral mucosal rating to each subject. In general, the mucosal surfaces were well preserved and infections were not seen. Patients evaluated for Sjoegren's syndrome and radiation-induced xerostomia had the lowest salivary gland performance but displayed a mucosal status similar to denture-wearing healthy subjects or patients with normal salivary flow who had idiopathic xerostomia. However, those patients with a total lack of salivary flow rarely had normal-appearing oral mucosa. These results confirm a role for saliva in oral mucosal preservation and also suggest that other factors may act to maintain oral mucosal integrity.

• OSTI ID: 6644874
• Journal Information: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology; (USA), Vol. 70:1, Issue 1; ISSN 0030-4220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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