Effect of wearing complete dentures on human palatal mucosal blood flow measured by 133Xe clearance

In eight edentulous subjects, who had not previously worn dentures, blood flow was measured by 133Xe clearance after intramucosal injection. Upper and lower complete dentures were then constructed for these subjects, and 133Xe clearance was measured after the dentures had been worn for 7 and 40 days. Before the insertion of dentures the mean blood flow to palatal mucosa was 18.9 ± 7.1 ml/100 g/min. Seven and 40 days after wearing dentures the mean flows to the palatal mucosa were 10.6 ± 4.5 and 12.6 ± 5.3 ml/100 g/min, respectively. The difference before and after wearing dentures was statistically significant ( p < 0.05). The subjects were asked not to wear the dentures for 24 h after the third visit on the 40th day whereupon the blood flow reached almost normal levels (16.2 ± 5.45 ml/100 g/min). The findings show that wearing dentures hinders the blood supply to the palatal mucosa, and that after resting the oral tissues, blood flow may return to normal levels.