title: [An electro-stimulating oral splint for dry mouth treatment].
abstract: Dentists encounter regularly patients with xerostomia, which is the accepted term for dry mouth complaint. Left untreated, xerostomia can lead to psychosocial distress and to impaired quality of life. Oral complications of the most frequent cause of xerostomia, salivary gland hypofunction, include dental caries and candidiasis. In addition, quality of life is significantly hampered. The etiology of xerostomia is multiple, but the most common conditions are Sjögren's syndrome, radiotherapy to the head and neck and use of medications. Current therapies offered by dentists rely on saliva substitutes and stimulants such as chewing gum, and are somewhat limited by their short-term efficacy. Oral mucosal electro-stimulation increases salivary secretion and relieves symptoms of dry mouth in patients with xerostomia. Therefore, intra-oral electronic devices have been developed aimed at stimulating salivary gland function. They offer promise as an optional safe and non-chemical treatment of xerostomia.
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine and Special Needs Dentistry Unit, Division of Maxillofacial Diagnostic, Medical and Surgical Sciences, Eastman Dental Institute UCL, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Strietzel
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Granizo López
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Konttinen
mesh_terms: D002638:Chewing Gum; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013165:Splints; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum; D012464:Saliva, Artificial