Whole salivary flow rates following submandibular gland resection.
BACKGROUND
Patients with head and neck neoplasms receive therapeutic neck dissections which may include the submandibular gland unilaterally or bilaterally. The clinical consequences of salivary gland resection could be reduced salivary output, altered cariogenic microflora, and increased incidence of dental caries.


METHODS
This investigation evaluated whole salivary flow rates of patients who had received unilateral (n = 29) or bilateral (n = 8) submandibular gland resections and compared them with noncancer control subjects (n = 29).


RESULTS
Unstimulated and stimulated (paraffin) flow rates were significantly lower in both resection groups compared with those of the noncancer group, ranging from p < .002 to p < .02. Although flow rates were lower in the bilateral group than in the unilateral group, the differences between these two groups were statistically significant (p < .02) only for stimulated saliva. Xerostomia was reported by one third of the resection subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of the significantly lower flow rates observed in the resection groups (especially for unstimulated saliva), topical fluoride therapy should be considered for those patients whose past caries activity would indicate an increased caries risk associated with partial loss of salivary function.
Jacob
R F
RF
Department of Dental Oncology, Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Weber
R S
RS
King
G E
GE
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology