[Implications of xerostomia in oral dis-homeostasis]

Xerostomia represents the main symptom in several secretor dysfunctions, but can be also met as a stand alone disease. The goal of the current study is to remark the oral cavity changes in patients with xerostomia and the incurring factors. The research was carried on two groups : a study group (76 xerostomia clinical cases) and a control group (72 clinically healthy patients). The xerostomia diagnosis was based on anamnesis data, clinical examination of oral tissues and salivary tests for measuring the salivary flow rate at rest and in stimulation conditions. The results of the study showed changes in oral tissues: dry lips with angular cheilitis, pale oral mucosa, with frequent congestion, dryness, partially no papilla tongue, atrophied papilla and even deep fissures and ulcerations, and increasingly frequent carious lesions. In our study the value of the salivary rate flow was 0.60 +/- 0.01 ml/min in the control group vs 0.30 +/- 0.04 ml/min in the study group (p < 0.01). After stimulation the value of the salivary rate flow was 1.0 +/- 0.15 ml/min in the control group vs 0.7 +/- 0.18 ml/min in the study group. Xerostomia represents a reality encountered in every day dental medicine practice, with an essential role in protecting the oral tissue, and which can significantly affect the life quality.