Sialolith characterization by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The objective of this study has been to characterize sialolith, a calcium phosphate deposit that develops in the human oral cavity, by high-resoln. field emission SEM and XPS. The morphol. and chem. data obtained helped in the detn. of their formation mechanism in salivary glands. Sialoliths in the submandibular salivary glands may arise secondary to sialodenitis, but not via a luminal org. nidus. We believe this is the first study that characterizes a sialolith by XPS. [on SciFinder(R)]