Studies on the Dynamic Properties of Blood Flow in Denture-bearing Palatal Mucosa

• Published in: Nihon Hotetsu Shika Gakkai Zasshi Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 125 - 134
• Main Author: Okazaki, Sachiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Prosthodontic Society 10.02.2003
• Subjects: blood flow; denture base; denture-bearing mucosa; laser-Doppler blood flowmeter; palatal mucosa
• ISSN: 0389-5386; 1883-177X
• DOI: 10.2186/jjps.47.125

Purpose: The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the biological condition and stress-bearing ability of the basal seat mucosa through observation of its micro-level blood flows. Methods: The blood flow in the palatal mucosa of 10 maxillary edentulous, and the 5 normal dentulous, adults was measured using two sets of laser-Doppler blood flowmeters at 29 points classified into 5 portions: posterior and anterior alveolar ridge areas, median palatal area, frontal palatal area, and lateral palatal slope area, according to general anatomical characteristics. Results: 1. The blood flow at rest for the same subjects, both dentulous and edentulous, showed good reproducibility in repeated tests on different days. 2. No significant difference in blood flow at rest was observed between edentulous and dentulous subjects in the same age bracket. 3. The blood flow of edentulous subjects at rest was smallest at the posterior alveolar ridge area. 4. The blood flow was decreased at every portion by compression of the palatal mucosa of edentulous subjects. 5. The ratio of blood flow variation under compression was more significant at the alveolar ridge areas than at the palatal portions. Conclusions: Since the dynamic conditions of blood flow in the denture-bearing palatal mucosa rationally agreed with anatomical characteristics and mechanical reaction of the mucosa, blood flow analysis on this site could be an important index to judge the various clinical procedures and to evaluate health conditions of the mucosa. However, accumulation of data on a lot of condition examples is henceforth needed.