Mucosal blood flow in human palate was measured by a temperature controlled thermoelectric method based on the thermal conductivity of mucosal tissue by means of a blood flow monitor and a noninvasive surface probe.
The effect of mechanical pressure on the palatal mucosal tissue was studied. Mechanical pressure (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 or 15.0gf/mm²) to the mucosal surface was exerted circumferentially around the surface probe by using an acrylic resin cover whose width of mucosal contact area was 1 or 4mm. After releasing the mechanical pressure, blood flow showed a tentative increase above that measured before loading the pressure. The rate of development of this phenomenon increased significantly depending on the amount of the mechanical pressure in each width of the mucosal contact area of the acrylic resin cover. The width difference of the mucosal contact area of the acrylic resin cover was shown to result in a different incline of the regression line for the relationship between the rate of development of the phenomenon and the amount of the pressure. It was suggested that the development rate of the phenomenon might be useful as a p arameter for the analysis of the physiological or mechanical properties of denture supporting tissues.