Evaluation of efficacy of estrogen and phytotherapy in oral cavity alterations of women in menopause.
OBJECTIVE
Hypo-estrogenism during menopause is the cause of numerous disturbances affecting various structures such as the oral cavity which can present with the following symptoms: changes in salivary secretion, gingivitis, bleeding and altered taste sensation. The object is to study whether hormone replacement therapy prescribed for female patients in menopause have any beneficial effect on the oral discomfort which affects the quality of life of these patients.


METHODS
The study enrolled 95 female patients; 14 were the control group and received no hormone replacement therapy while 81 patients underwent two types of therapy: 38 were prescribed estrogen therapy and 43 phytotherapy. The main outcome measures were alterations of the oral cavity: salivary change, gingivitis, bleeding and taste changes.


RESULTS
It was observed that the patients receiving treatment had an improvement or disappearance of symptoms in the oral cavity and that estrogen was more effective than phytotherapy regarding the salivary change while the gingivitis, bleeding and taste changes was the same for both therapies.


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogen and phytotherapy have beneficial effect on oral discomfort in women in menopause. The proposed treatment can have a beneficial effect on osteopenia and osteoporosis and therefore also on possible increase of future tooth loss during menopause.
Giuca
M R
MR
Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. m.giuca@odont.med.unipi.it
Carli
E
E
Pasini
M
M
Bonfigli
D
D
Cappè
M R
MR
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004967:Estrogens; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D004958:Estradiol; D019833:Genistein