Significance and Role Of Tongue and Saliva in Prosthodontics

The knowledge of normal salivary composition, flow and function is extremely important on a daily basis when treating the patients. Recognition should be given to saliva for the many contribution it makes to the preservation and maintenance of oral and systemic health. For fabrication of complete dentures, the anatomy and physiologic characteristics of the tongue and its environment must be evaluated thoroughly. Any abnormalities will jeopardize the success of such dentures. The tongue must engage in the normal physiologic acts of speech, mastication and deglutition and at the same time help stabilize the complete denture. Fabrication of the denture base and artificial tooth placement are important in aiding or hindering the tongue in accomplishing its tasks. The tongue is too mobile for one to make a useful impression of it, it is important for the patient¿s comfort and the stability of the dentures that when its musculature is relaxed, it should find itself in a cavity which at least gives it room to relax, otherwise it is like a confined prisoner with an attempt to stand upright resulting in immediate springing forward of the mandibular denture, when the teeth are separated.