Drooling.
BACKGROUND
Drooling is the overflowing of saliva from the mouth. It is mainly due to neurological disturbance and less frequently to hypersalivation. Drooling can lead to functional and clinical consequences for patients, families, and caregivers. The aim of this review is to emphasize the clinical aspects of the assessing and management of drooling.


METHODS
All papers and clinical reviews of drooling in the electronic data bases (Medline, PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library) for the past 40 years in any languages have been evaluated.


RESULTS
The severity of drooling and the effects on the quality of life of the patient and family, help to establish a prognosis and to decide the therapeutic regimen. Treatment options range from conservative therapy to medication, radiation, or surgery, and often a combination is needed.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic drooling remains a problem that can be difficult to manage. Despite the acceptable results obtained with most of the treatments, none is free of undesirable effects.
Scully
Crispian
C
Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, UK.
Limeres
Jacobo
J
Gleeson
Michael
M
Tomás
Inmaculada
I
Diz
Pedro
P
D006801:Humans; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000601:surgery; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents