Capillary Action Around Dental Structures
W. J. O'BRIEN 1
1 School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104, USA
The capillary action of saliva occurs in the crevices around and between teeth and around dental restorations. Marginal leakage and denture retention caused by a thin film of saliva are aspects of capillary phenomena. Liquids in capillaries isolated from a reservoir showed an increase in surface tension and lower vapor pressure. The strength of thin films of human saliva was independent of ambient pressure.
Submitted on April 28, 1972
