title: The prevalence of xerostomia in patients with removable prostheses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of xerostomia among patients attending a dental clinic for provision of dentures and to investigate the oral cleanliness in those patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Denture-wearing patients who reported dry mouth completed a questionnaire related to xerostomia. Dryness of the mouth was determined by clinical observation. Dental and denture cleanliness was determined using the Modified Debris Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twenty patients had xerostomia. Oral cleanliness was generally poor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high prevalence of xerostomia in the patient population. A high proportion of subjects had poor oral cleanliness.
authors.forename: Fotoula
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulou
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tasopoulos
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jagger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003741:Dental Deposits / Q000453:epidemiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003829:Denture, Partial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D015995:Prevalence; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000453:epidemiology*