A REVIEW ON THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF ORAL XEROSTOMIA

Abstract

Aim: The study aims to synthesize current research on oral xerostomia and identify measures that can be taken to prevent it. Materials and methods: We have researched literature data on oral xerostomia using the PubMed database. We also consulted exclusively publications in English, published in the 1963 –2022 time frame, using search keywords such as oral xerostomia, salivary glands, hyposalivation, and dry mouth. We have selected from the PubMed database only original articles that match the search keywords and that provide solid evidence of the research activity on oral xerostomia, thus making an exhaustive review of the specialized literature focused on the subject of the study. Articles that were selected based on keywords by the database search engine and to which we had access only to the summary, conference summaries, and letters to the editor were excluded. Results: We examined 117 articles. The distribution according to the type of articles showed 85.41% presence of clinical trials. The distribution according to the keywords in the search engine showed a percentage of 65 % for xerostomia. Conclusions: The present article reviews the current literature reviewing the current approach to xerostomia, starting from the articles present in the scientific literature. More studies on large batches of patients are still needed to be able to obtain the most correct systematization of treatments and to establish a treatment protocol for dentists.

Keywords

• oral xerostomia
• salivary glands
• hyposalivation
• dry mouth