Evaluation of xerostomia closely associated with systemic diseases using a dental approach

Based on the findings of epidemiological surveys in western countries, the number of person with suspected xerostomia in Japan is estimated to be 30,000,000. Xerostomia is caused by: 1) Systemic diseases; 2) Medications; 3) Tumors or trauma; 4) Radiotherapy; and 5) Neurological factors. Its symptoms can be alleviated, and its progression can be stopped by close cooperation between the dental and medical departments. However, at present, symptomatic treatment methods such as water drinking, oral rinsing with water, and administration of Kampo medicines or parasymptomimetic drugs are mainly used, and a standard treatment has not been established. On the other hand, previous studies on xerostomia have reported improvement in dry mouth symptoms using dental approaches or a relationship between the development of candidiasis and the salivary flow rate. Therefore, in this study, to establish a dental method useful for improving xerostomia associated with systemic diseases and medications for them, we restored occlusal function, and as a result, increased the salivary flow rate, and evaluated changes in oral findings.