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Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Age and medication are significant risk factors for xerostomia in an English population, attending general dental
E A Field1, S Fear, S M Higham
1Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5PS. e.a.field@liverpool.ac.uk
Objective:
To study the prevalence of xerostomia in an English population, attending general dental practice and relate it to age, medication and gender.
Design Study:
Cross-sectional.
Setting:
Five General Dental Practices in Merseyside, North of England.
Subjects:
1,103 adult patients attending for routine dental care.
Intervention:
Questionnaire administered by dentists.
Main Outcome Measures:
Age, gender, systemic medication, reported oral dryness.
Results:
1,103 patients (654 females) were recruited, of whom 427 (39%) were aged 60 years or older. 26% of patients reported taking medication. The overall prevalence of xerostomia was 12.7% (males--10.3%, females 14.4%). Age, medication and female gender were found to be significant risk factors for xerostomia, using logistic regression analysis.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of xerostomia (12.7%) in an English population was lower than reported in previous North American and Swedish studies. Medication was a significant risk factor for xerostomia and a better predictor of risk status, than either age or gender.
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