title: A clinical comparative trial of saliva substitutes in radiation-induced salivary gland hypofunction.
abstract: Use of saliva substitutes may become necessary to manage xerostomia when no means of stimulating saliva production is effective. Few clinical trials have compared products that may act as salivary substitutes. Patients' preference of products depended on effect duration, lubrication, taste, delivery system, and cost. Many patients did not continue with the use of the products studied, and instead chose to rely on frequent use of water. Clinical trials of the products are recommended before prescription to indicate what may be the best choice for the individual patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stevenson-Moore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000528:radiation effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013649:Taste; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D012464:Saliva, Artificial