Xerostomia

Case Summary Ms. Charles is a female who presented with a gradual onset of seemingly unrelated symptoms that progressively worsened throughout her life. As a child she developed multiple dental caries and periodontal disease. A few years later, she began having dry mouth symptoms; generalized myalgias and arthralgias; and chronic eye irritation and blepharitis, which did not respond to over-the-counter eye drops, allergy medications, or pain medications. She was evaluated by multiple physicians…

diabetes is known to cause Xerostomia, which is a common problem linked to diabetes in addition to other systemic diseases. Diabetes is known to affect the function of the salivary glands, limiting the secretory capability of the glands (Offenbacher, Southerland, & Taylor, 2005, p.174). Saliva is an important aid to oral health as it assists in neutralizing the acidic levels and wash away some bacteria that would otherwise adhere to the teeth’s dry surfaces. Xerostomia can also lead to…

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer (Duvvuri & Myers, 2009) and the eighth most common cause of cancer death worldwide (Santarelli, Lo Russo, Bambini, Campisi, & Lo Muzio, 2009). The umbrella term HNC includes a heterogeneous group of lesions at several sites including the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, larynx, pharynx and salivary glands (World Health Organization, 2005). Surgery and radiotherapy (XRT) are the main treatment approaches for HNC, with good…

Antiepileptic medications and seizures can both have devastating effects on the oral cavity of someone with epilepsy. These include: chipped and broken teeth, irritated gums, gingival hypertrophy (overgrown gums), periodontal disease, bleeding gums, xerostomia (dry mouth), postoperative bleeding and susceptibility to oral infections such as canker sores and lesions (Josh Provides). Fortunately, these effects can be prevented and/or treated by keeping up with 6 month dental check-ups and by…

patient's vital signs. The patient’s medical history revealed alcohol use, tobacco use, and no medications. However, the patient does take Mucinex-Sinus Max due to seasonal allergies. The dental implications associated with Mucinex-Sinus Max is xerostomia. Xerostomia affects the oral cavity in a negative way due to the lack of nutrients provided from saliva. The patient's blood pressure was 140/90 mmHg and pulse was 80 BPM. The blood pressure reading was stage one hypertension because the normal…

What you eat matters. Many foods and beverages cause plaque, which damages your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film full of bacteria that contributes to gum disease and causes tooth damage. After eating or drinking food, the sugars consumed cause the bacteria-filled plaque to release acids that attack your tooth enamel. As the acids break down your tooth enamel, cavities develop. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cavities are the most common, chronic disease faced by…

recommended. It is imperative to help patient to control glucose levels before doing any therapeutic scaling and periodontal debridement. A patient with uncontrolled diabetes has a higher risk for dental caries due to the reduction of saliva (xerostomia) and increased glucose in saliva; are prone to infection like candidiasis and have poor wound healing capacity. Older patients might present kidney complications, blindness, hypertension and other systemic diseases. There is not…

Yvette Alcala March 15, 2015 Relationship Between Periodontitis and Diabetes Introduction Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that can cause adverse effects on daily life. From moderate to severe cases it affects 13 to 15 percent of Americans between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five. (Page, 1998) If not routinely monitored, it is common for this disease to advance until symptoms become severely noticeable. Research confirms that periodontal disease is also linked to…

An 18-year-old Asian female presented for treatment at Missouri Southern State University Dental Hygiene clinic. The medical history reveals the patient had an ovarian benign tumor that was removed in 2003. The patient was under general anesthesia during the surgery and experienced no complications. Also, the patient has a diagnosis of low blood pressure. Another medical condition that the patient has is Dysautonomia, which is a dysfunction of the autonomic system. A contraindication for this…

Past dental history and oral hygiene practices Ben regularly attended dental appointments with an oral health practitioner until three years prior to this consultation. He underwent orthodontic treatment to achieve space closure from missing upper lateral incisors in the upper arch and to relieve maxillary and mandibular crowding of teeth. 12 months prior to this consultation, fixed braces were removed and fixed lingual and palatal wire retainers were placed on the anterior teeth. Ben reports a…