An Unusually Large Submandibular Salivary Calculus: Case Report and Structural Analysis

We present a case involving an unusually large calculus of Wharton's duct. To gain insight into the formation of this calculus, detailed structural properties were investigated using an X-ray diffraction technique. A 70-year old man, brought a calculus to a dental consultation, by himself, when it perforated the floor of the mouth. The calculus was unusually long, measuring 4.5 cm in length. X-ray diffraction and micro-FT-IR analyses were employed to investigate structural properties of the calculus, which suggested that its stratified structure, reflecting compositional changes in the microenvironment, was a result of intermittent and incremental growth.