X erostomia, or the subjective feeling of a dry mouth, is a common complaint. It is often a consequence of salivary hypofunction (hyposalivation), in which there is objective evidence of reduced salivary output or qualitative changes in saliva. Typically, patients complain of oral dryness only when salivary secretion is reduced by more than half.1 As saliva has a crucial role in taste perceptio...

Saliva is essential to oral health. The most obvious and important function of saliva is in eating, for taste and to lubricate food, as well as protecting the mucosa and teeth (Table 1). The water, mucins and proline-rich glycoproteins lubricate food and help swallowing. Importantly, saliva is essential for normal taste perception. Saliva is protective via the washing action, via various antimi...

We report a rare case of dry eyes and dry mouth caused by primary amyloidosis. A 66-year-old woman with keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia died of acute respiratory failure. Shirmer's test, gum test, and sialography indicated Sjögren's syndrome. Lip biopsy revealed amyloid deposition around the salivary ducts. Bence-Jones protein was noted in the urine. At autopsy, amyloid deposition was...

Members Esen Akpek, MD Richard Brasington, MD, FACR Michael Brennan, DDS, MHS Steven E. Carsons, MD* Nancy L. Carteron, MD, FACR Troy Daniels, DDS, MS* H. Kenneth Fisher, MD, FACP, FCCP Gary Foulks, MD, FACS Theresa Lawrence Ford, MD S. Lance Forstot, MD Philip C. Fox, DDS* Robert I. Fox, MD, PhD, FACP* Tara Mardigan, MS, MPH, RD Austin Mircheff, PhD John Daniel Nelson, MD, FACS Kelly Nichols, ...

A 77-year-old Japanese man living in Brazil for 70 years presented with a 6-month history of progressive dyspnea, weight loss (30 lb), low-grade fever, dry cough, and dry mouth. His medical history revealed hypertension and type 2 diabetes. He was a 40-pack-year ex-smoker and had worked in agriculture. Physical examination revealed bibasilar inspiratory crackles and enlarged (1 cm in diameter),...

Objective To explore inequalities in oral health impact among care home residents using OHIP-14 and ADHS criteria. Basic research design Cross-sectional survey with structured interview and clinical examination using 2009 ADHS criteria including OHIP-14. Comparisons were made between groups of residents and with findings from the ADHS 2009. Participants Care homes and residents were randoml...