The Surface Area of the Adult Human Mouth and Thickness of the Salivary Film Covering the Teeth and Oral Mucosa

Abstract

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.