Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

2 Contact Hours $24.00

Contents Outline

Chapter 1: Saliva

  • Gatekeeper
  • New Diagnostic
  • Table 1 Saliva Composition
  • Salivary Gland Dysfunction
  • Sjögren’s Syndrome
  • Xerostomia
  • Diagnosis of Xerostomia
  • Table 2 Xerogenic Drugs in Order of Increasing Potential
  • Table 3 Subjective and Objective Symptoms of Xerostomia
  • Table 4 Saliva Composition and Flow Rates

Chapter 2: Oral Pilocarpine Hydrochloride for Radiation-Induced Dry Mouth

  • Clinical Studies
  • Severity of Xerostomia Reduced When Taking Salagen Tablets
  • Salagen Indication Extended to Dry Mouth in Sjögren’s Syndrome
  • Table1 Incidence of Adverse Experiences With 5 mg Pilocarpine HCI
  • Chapter 3: Differentiation of Dry Mouth Etiology
  • Table 1: Causes of Complaints of Xerostomia
  • Table 2: Methods of Evaluation of Salivary Function
  • History
  • Symptom Review
  • Physical Examination
  • Measurement of Salivary Output
  • Table 1 The Secretion of Whole Saliva
  • Sialochemical Analyses
  • Laboratory Studies
  • Salivary Imaging
  • Salivary Biopsy
  • Summary

Chapter 4: Gene Transfer Triggers Saliva Productions in Damaged Salivary Glands

  • Re-Engineering Cells
  • Production of Fluid
  • Issues to Resolve

Chapter 5: Xerostomia or Dry Mouth Information

  • What is dry mouth?
  • Salvia
  • What happens when you have dry mouth?
  • What causes dry mouth?
  • Is relief available?
  • What is being done about dry mouth?

Post-Test

Learning Objectives

After completing the course, you’ll be able to:

 

  1. Describe the antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties of saliva in maintaining oral and systemic health.
  2. List conditions and diseases that can cause salivary gland dysfunction.
  3. Describe the promising role gene transfer technology may play in repairing diseases or damaged salivary glands.
  4. Demonstrate the spitting method of collecting whole saliva.
  5. List subjective and objective symptoms of xerostomia.
  6. Distinguish the saliva composition and flow rates in healthy and xerostomic individuals.
  7. List 8 methods of evaluating salivary function and describe their relative accuracy.
  8. Identify at least 6 findings on physical examination that may indicate salivary dysfunction.
  9. Discuss the use of whole saliva in the differential diagnosis of Sjögren’s syndrome.
  10. Recommend a treatment regimen of 6 specific measures for caries prevention for patients with hyposalivation.
  11. Discuss the results of clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of pilocarpine in improving salivary function in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia.
  12. Provide essential information to a patient suffering from dry mouth , such as causes and symptoms of dry mouth, common measures to relieve dryness and oral hygiene steps.