Are Dental Professionals Aware of the Discovery of Newly Identified Salivary Glands? Is There a Debate About This Discovery?

Overview

Journal Clin Oral Investig

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2025 Feb 26

PMID 40011231

Authors

Ahmet Eren Karabiyik

Tuna Sumer

Kubra Cam

Sibel Ucak Semirgin

Ayse Zeynep Zengin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: Writing a letter to the editor.

Background: Saliva plays a crucial role in chewing, swallowing, digestion, taste, and oral hygiene. In addition to the three major salivary glands in humans (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands), the existence of small salivary glands scattered in the submucosa of the nasopharynx and oropharynx is also known.

Material And Methods: Is it a new organ? This discovery has attracted significant attention from the scientific community but has also raised questions and sparked debates. Should the tubarial glands be classified as major or minor salivary glands, or as a separate organ? For a structure to be classified as an organ, it must have a distinct shape and structure, consist of multiple tissue types, and perform specific functions.

Conclusion: As we know, the definition and recognition of an organ must be based on scientific foundations. More research is needed on tubarial glands, and it seems that this discussion will continue for some time. Our purpose in writing this letter is to raise awareness of this issue among dental professionals.

References

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