**Salivary Effects of Facial Vibrotactile Stimulation in Patients with Sjogren's Syndrome and Poor Salivation Patients with Sjogren's Syndrome and Poor Salivation**

**Salivary Effects of Facial Vibrotactile Stimulation in** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72383

Koichiro Ueda, Kanako Gora, Masaru Yamaoka, Takako Sato, Kimiko Abe, Enri Nakayama, Mituyasu Sato, Yumiko Tunoda, Sumiko Akatuka, Sayaka Fukui, Akinari Hayashi, Teruyuki Hirai, Sayako Ohnishi, Mayumi Hayata and Hisao Hiraba Takako Sato, Kimiko Abe, Enri Nakayama, Mituyasu Sato, Yumiko Tunoda, Sumiko Akatuka, Sayaka Fukui, Akinari Hayashi, Teruyuki Hirai, Sayako Ohnishi, Mayumi Hayata and Hisao Hiraba Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Koichiro Ueda, Kanako Gora, Masaru Yamaoka,

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72383

#### **Abstract**

*We examined the effect of vibrotactile apparatus in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and others with reduced salivation in comparison to normal subjects.* The most effective salivation in normal subjects was produced by 89 Hz vibrotactile stimulation with 9.8 μm amplitude on the parotid or submandibular glands vibrotactile stimuli. First, we examined by measuring the weight of dental cotton rolls positioned at the opening of the secretory duct for total salivation 3 min during resting, and then after 5-min intervals, *the weights were measured every 3 min* of vibrotactile stimulation on salivary glands. Furthermore, we measured facial temperature around vibrators after 2 min of vibration. We investigated 10 poor salivation patients with Sjögren's syndrome (8 patients) defined by examinations (contrast study or scintigraphic test) and others (2 patients). About 50% of patients with poor salivation gained recognition for good results, although they had periods of shortterm (3 months) and long-term effects (6–7 years) during recuperation. Furthermore, *facial skin temperatures on both sides of parotid glands were decreased in Sjogren's syndrome after vibration, although their temperatures were increased following recovery.* Although the mechanism is not clear, we think that vibrotactile stimulation gives activation to salivary glands under the rising facial temperature.

**Keywords:** vibrotactile stimulation, facial skin temperature, parotid and submandibular glands, poor salivation, Sjögren's syndrome

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© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
