|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
|
The Surface Area of the Adult Human Mouth and Thickness of the Salivary Film Covering the Teeth and Oral Mucosa
L.M.C. Collins
Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3E OW3
C. Dawes
Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3E OW3
The surface area of the mouth was measured to calculate the average thickness of the salivary film which separates the opposing layers of the oral mucosa and which also overlies the dental plaque.
The subjects were 10 adults of each sex, all of whom had essentially a full complement of teeth. Impressions were taken of the upper and lower jaws, the buccal and labial vestibular mucosa, and the ventral surface of the tongue, and stone models were cast. The dorsum of the tongue was assumed to have the same area as the palate plus that of the palatal surfaces of the upper teeth. The six separate areas considered were the teeth, the palate, the buccal and lingual gingival and alveolar mucosa, the buccal and labial vestibular mucosa, the ventral surface of the tongue, including the floor of the mouth, and the dorsum of the tongue. Aluminum foil, of known weight per unit area, was adapted to the models of the different regions of the mouth, and the surface areas were calculated from the weights of the foil. The mean total surface area of the mouth was 214.7 ± 12.9 cm 2, and there was no significant difference due to gender. The teeth, keratinized epithelium, and non-keratinized epithelium occupied about 20%, 50%, and 30% of the total surface area, respectively.
Given that the average volumes of saliva present in the mouth before and after swallowing have been estimated to be 0.77 and 1.07 mL, respectively, it can be calculated that the average thickness of the salivary film in the mouth varies between 0.07 and 0.10 mm. Since we have previously assumed that dental plaque is washed by a relatively thick layer of saliva, the results have important implications with regard to diffusion of substances in and out of dental plaque and with regard to the sensation of oral dryness caused by fluid absorption through the oral mucosa or by salivary evaporation.
REFERENCES
- Ben-Aryeh, H.; Miron, D.; Berdicevsky, I.; Szargel, R.; and Gutman, D. (1985): Xerostomia in the Elderly: Prevalence, Diagnosis, Complications and Treatment, Gerodontology 4:77-82.
- Dawes, C. (1983): A Mathematical Model of Salivary Clearance of Sugar from the Oral Cavity, Caries Res 17:321-334.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
- Dawes, C. (1984): Discussion. In: Cariology Today, B. Guggenheim, Ed., Basel: Karger, p. 359.
- Dawes, C. (1987): Physiological Factors Affecting Salivary Flow Rate, Oral Sugar Clearance, and the Sensation of Dry Mouth in Man, J Dent Res 66:648-653.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
- Dawes, C. and Dibdin, G.H. (1986): A Theoretical Analysis of the Effects of Plaque Thickness and Initial Salivary Sucrose Concentration on Diffusion of Sucrose into Dental Plaque and its Conversion to Acid during Salivary Clearance, J Dent Res 65:89-94.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Kaaber. S. (1971a): Studies on the Permeability of Human Oral Mucosa. II. The Permeability of Dry Palatal Mucosa to Water, Sodium and Potassium, Acta Odontol Scand 29:663-681.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
- Kaaber, S. (1971b): Studies on the Permeability of Human Oral Mucosa. III. The Permeability of Dry Buccal Mucosa to Water, Sodium and Potassium, Acta Odontol Scand 29:683-698.
- Kimura, O.: Dykes, E.: and Fearnhead, R.W. (1977): The Relationship between the Surface Area of the Enamel Crowns of Human Teeth and that of the Dentine-Enamel Junction, Arch Oral Biol 22:677-683.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
- Lagerlof, F. and Dawes. C. (1984): The Volume of Saliva in the Mouth Before and After Swallowing, J Dent Res 63:618-621.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Lagerlof, F.: Dawes. R.; and Dawes, C. (1984): Salivary Clearance of Sugar and its Effects on pH Changes by Streptococcus mitior in an Artificial Mouth, J Dent Res 63:1266-1270.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Lesch, C.A.: Squier, C.A.; Williams, D.M.; Cruchley, A.H.; and Speight, P.M. (1987): Regional Differences in the Permeability of Human Oral Mucosa, J Dent Res 66:238, Abst. No. 1055.
- Main C.; Geddes, D.A.M.; McNee, S.G.; Collins, W.J.N.; Smith, D.C.; and Weetman, D.A. (1984): Instrumentation for Measurement of Dental Plaque Thickness in situ, J Biomed Eng 6:151-154.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
- Mashberg. A. (1980): Clinical Features of Oral Malignancy in Relation to Prognosis. In: Oral Premalignancy, I.C. Mackenzie, E. Dabelsteen, and C.A. Squier. Eds., Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, pp. 292-303 (Ch. 18).
- Moore, C. and Catlin, D. (1967): Anatomic Origins and Locations of Oral Cancer, Am J Surg 114:510-513.[CrossRef][Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
- Schluger, S.; Yuodelis, R.A.; and Page, R.C. (1977): Periodontal Disease, Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, p. 12.
- Squier, C.A. and Hall, B.K. (1985): The Permeability of Skin and Oral Mucosa to Water and Horseradish Peroxidase as Related to the Thickness of the Permeability Barrier, J Invest Dermatol 84:176-179.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
- Squier, C.A.: Johnson. N.W.; and Hackemann, M. (1975): Structure and Function of Normal Human Oral Mucosa. In: Oral Mucosa in Health and Disease, A.E. Dolby, Ed., Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 1-112.
Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 66, No. 8,
1300-1302 (1987)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345870660080201
 CiteULike  Complore  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
C. Dawes
Salivary flow patterns and the health of hard and soft oral tissues
J Am Dent Assoc,
May 1, 2008;
139(suppl_2):
18S - 24S.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. C. Trelea, S. Atlan, I. Deleris, A. Saint-Eve, M. Marin, and I. Souchon
Mechanistic Mathematical Model for In Vivo Aroma Release during Eating of Semiliquid Foods
Chem Senses,
February 1, 2008;
33(2):
181 - 192.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Jin and H.-K. Yip
SUPRAGINGIVAL CALCULUS: FORMATION AND CONTROL
Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine,
September 1, 2002;
13(5):
426 - 441.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. A. Squier and M. J. Kremer
Biology of Oral Mucosa and Esophagus
J Natl Cancer Inst Monographs,
October 1, 2001;
2001(29):
7 - 15.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G.H. Dibdin, C. Dawes, and L.M.D. Macpherson
Computer Modeling of the Effects of Chewing Sugar-free and Sucrose-containing Gums on the pH Changes in Dental Plaque Associated with a Cariogenic Challenge at Different Intra-oral Sites
Journal of Dental Research,
August 1, 1995;
74(8):
1482 - 1488.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Prakobphol, C.A. Burdsal, and S.J. Fisher
Quantifying the Strength of Bacterial Adhesive Interactions with Salivary Glycoproteins
Journal of Dental Research,
May 1, 1995;
74(5):
1212 - 1218.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.M. Ten Cate
In Situ Models, Physico-Chemical Aspects
Advances in Dental Research,
July 1, 1994;
8(2):
125 - 133.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Fejerskov, B. Nyvad, and M. J. Larsen
Human Experimental Caries Models: Intra-Oral Environmental Variability
Advances in Dental Research,
July 1, 1994;
8(2):
134 - 143.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.M.D. Macpherson and C. Dawes
An in vitro Simulation of the Effects of Chewing Sugar-free and Sugar-containing Chewing Gums on pH Changes in Dental Plaque
Journal of Dental Research,
October 1, 1993;
72(10):
1391 - 1397.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Dawes and L.M.D. Macpherson
The Distribution of Saliva and Sucrose Around the Mouth During the Use of Chewing Gum and the Implications for the Site-specificity of Caries and Calculus Deposition
Journal of Dental Research,
May 1, 1993;
72(5):
852 - 857.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D.T. Zero, R.F. Raubertas, A.M. Pedersen, J. Fu, A.L. Hayes, and J.D.B. Featherstone
Studies of Fluoride Retention by Oral Soft Tissues after the Application of Home-use Topical Fluorides
Journal of Dental Research,
September 1, 1992;
71(9):
1546 - 1552.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G.L. Vogel, C.M. Carey, and J. Ekstrand
Distribution of Fluoride in Saliva and Plaque Fluid after a 0.048 mol/L NaF Rinse
Journal of Dental Research,
September 1, 1992;
71(9):
1553 - 1557.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G.L. Vogel, Y. Mao, C.M. Carey, L.C. Chow, and S. Takagi
In vivo Fluoride Concentrations Measured for Two Hours After a NaF or a Novel Two-solution Rinse
Journal of Dental Research,
March 1, 1992;
71(3):
448 - 452.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.M.D. Macpherson and C. Dawes
Effects of Salivary Film Velocity on pH Changes in an Artificial Plaque Containing Streptococcus oralis, After Exposure to Sucrose
Journal of Dental Research,
September 1, 1991;
70(9):
1230 - 1234.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.M.D. Macpherson, W.-Y. Chen, and C. Dawes
Effects of Salivary Bicarbonate Content and Film Velocity on pH Changes in an Artificial Plaque Containing Streptococcus oralis, After Exposure to Sucrose
Journal of Dental Research,
September 1, 1991;
70(9):
1235 - 1238.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.A. Squier
The Permeability of Oral Mucosa
Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine,
January 1, 1991;
2(1):
13 - 32.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G.H. Dibdin
Plaque Fluid and Diffusion: Study of the Cariogenic Challenge by Computer Modeling
Journal of Dental Research,
June 1, 1990;
69(6):
1324 - 1331.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Watanabe and C. Dawes
Salivary Flow Rates and Salivary Film Thickness in Five-year-old Children
Journal of Dental Research,
May 1, 1990;
69(5):
1150 - 1153.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Dawes, S. Watanabe, P. Biglow-Lecomte, and G.H. Dibdin
Estimation of the Velocity of the Salivary Film at Some Different Locations in the Mouth
Journal of Dental Research,
November 1, 1989;
68(11):
1479 - 1482.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Dawes
An Analysis of Factors Influencing Diffusion from Dental Plaque into a Moving Film of Saliva and the Implications for Caries
Journal of Dental Research,
November 1, 1989;
68(11):
1483 - 1488.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.A. Lesch, C.A. Squier, A. Cruchley, D.M. Williams, and P. Speight
The Permeability of Human Oral Mucosa and Skin to Water
Journal of Dental Research,
September 1, 1989;
68(9):
1345 - 1349.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Olsson, A. Berglund, L. Pohl, and M. Bergman
Model of Mercury Vapor Transport from Amalgam Restorations in the Oral Cavity
Journal of Dental Research,
March 1, 1989;
68(3):
504 - 508.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Lecomte and C. Dawes
The Influence of Salivary Flow Rate on Diffusion of Potassium Chloride from Artificial Plaque at Different Sites in the Mouth
Journal of Dental Research,
November 1, 1987;
66(11):
1614 - 1618.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
