title: Management of a post-radiotherapy xerostomic patient--a case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to fabricate complete denture with palatal reservoir filled with artificial saliva for a post radiotherapy edentulous patient.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Xerostomia is a subjective complaint rather than a disease. It is caused by irradiation, medication, Sjogren's syndrome & neurological factors such as stress. Radiotherapeutic treatment of head and neck cancer patients often causes long term dysfunction involving their salivary function, swallowing capabilities & taste. All three of these domains are affected by radiation- induced damage to the salivary glands. This in turn results in poor retention of complete denture, frequent trauma to alveolar ridge & other oral infections. All these events drastically affects quality of life of ageing patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A complete denture in heat cure acrylic resin was fabricated in which a palatal reservoir was made on the palatal side.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Problems arising due to xerostomia were reduced to a great extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prosthodontic management of Xerostomic patient include several techniques. This paper presents a case report of post radiotherapy edentulous patient in which complete denture with palatal reservoir filled with artificial saliva was fabricated.
authors: Subharti Dental College, Meerut, Uttarpradesh, India. dryashpal.singh@gmail.com
authors: Yashpal
authors: Y
authors: Singh
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Saini
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Siwach
authors: Rashmi
authors: R
authors: Mittal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018289:Carcinoma, Verrucous / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003819:Denture Bases; D003779:Denture Design; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper; D004326:Drinking; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000528:radiation effects; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012463:Saliva / Q000528:radiation effects; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D012464:Saliva, Artificial