Stomatological approach to Sjögren's syndrome: diagnosis, management and therapeutical timing

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by the exocrine glands inflammation, with subsequent hypofunction. More frequently lachrymal and salivary glands are interested with subsequent xerophthalmia and xerostomia. Sjögren's syndrome can be present in an idiopathic type or in association with other autoimmune diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, schlerodermia, etc. It interests mainly the women (with a ratio F:M=9:1) with an age between 40 and 60 years old. The disease prevalence varies from 0.4% to 4.8%. The glandular lesions determine in the time a volume reduction and a secretum quality alteration. The most frequent oral manifestations are xerostomia, that allows the establishment of caries, gingivitises, periodontal disease and oral candidiasis. The aim of this work was to perform a thorough review of the literature on Sjögren's syndrome, illustrating the most internationally accredited diagnostic criteria, the patient's management and therapeutical approach in the odontostomatological discipline. The Authors conclude that it doesn't exist a resolutive treatment of the disease. The therapy is only palliative, and is turned to the treatment of xerostomia and xerophthalmia, through systemic and aspecific sialogogues drugs. From the odontostomatological point of view, particularly useful results the domiciliary and professional oral hygiene to contrast the xerostomia effect on the oral structures.