Xerostomia: the missing diagnosis?

Xerostomia is a distressing condition which may be associated with a number of specific diseases, iatrogenically induced following the administration of drugs or radiotherapy, or the result of inflammatory processes affecting salivary gland tissue. In this article epidemiological background is briefly reviewed and aetiological conditions associated with xerostomic states are summarized. The oral sequelae of xerostomia are discussed and approaches to diagnosis demonstrated. Treatment of xerostomia is basically supportive and the main elements are presented.