Study on structure and property of salivary calculi

Five salivary calculi from the submandibular gland were studied with the polalization microscope, the scanning electron microscope, the X-ray microanalyzer and the X-ray diffractor.The composition of salivary calculus showed a lamellar and concentric structure. Two nuclei were present in the central part of the structure. From the results of the X-ray diffraction pattern, the crystallines of the calculi were composed of hydroxyapatite, but one calculus was composed of whitlockeit and hydroxyapatite. By using the X-ray microanalyzer, the detected component elements in calculi were Ca, P, Na, Mg, S, Cl and K.