Effect of loading on a substitute oral mucosa and underlying bone

Some mechanical effects of stresses on a bone and oral mucosa model were investigated. A substitute oral mucosa on a substrate of plano-parallel sections of bovine cortical bone modified indenter load/penetration characteristics such that the effects of loads on bone were deferred. In the case of the silicone rubber used, approximately five times the load could be withstood by the bone before it was indented than if no overlay was used. The thicker the overlay the more of the energy applied was absorbed in deforming the intermediary layer. Experimental results confirm that oral mucosa is a modifier of direct loads falling on bone and give some indication of their magnitude.