Changes in the water permeability of palatal mucosa after complete denture treatment

The water permeability of the human palatal mucosa has been studied in 12 persons with 1 year of full maxillary denture experience and 10 persons without dentures. Transmucosal water transport rates were studied gravimetrically with the use of solutesaturated discs of filter paper in contact with the mucosa, in accordance with earlier described procedures (KAABER 1973a, b). The inflow of water through clinically healthy mucosa was at the same level in both groups. After use of a 1.10 mol sucrose solution a significant increase in the inflow was observed in the denture wearers group, which suggested an increased amount of osmolytes in the mucosal surface. Two denture wearers with a slightly inflamed mucosal surface showed an increased inflow after use of water and a corresponding strong outflow after use of the sucrose solution, indicating a partial loss of the mucosal barrier function.