6. Salivation Disorders Flashcards
What are the functions of saliva ?
Acid buffering.
Mucosal lubrication - speech, swallowing.
Taste facilitation.
Antibacterial.
What can be the cause of xerostomia ?
Salivary gland disease.
Drugs.
Medical conditions and dehydration.
Radiotherapy and cancer treatments.
Anxiety and somatisation disorders.
Indirect causes of salivary problems - what drugs cause xerostomia ?
Anti-cholinergic drugs i.e. tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotics.
Anti-muscarinic drugs i.e. amitriptyline.
Antihistamines.
Atropine.
Diuretics i.e. bendrofluazide.
Cytotoxics (chemotherapy).
Lithium.
What percentage reduction of salivary flow do people on amitriptyline experience ?
26%
What percentage reduction of salivary flow do people on bendrofluazide experience ?
10%
What percentage reduction of salivary flow do people on lithium experience ?
70%
Indirect salivary problems - what chronic medical conditions can cause xerostomia ?
Diabetes - mellitus and insipidus.
Renal disease - increase in diuresis.
Stroke.
Addisons disease.
Persistant vomiting.
Indirect salivary problems - what acute medical conditions can cause xerostomia ?
Acute oral mucosal disease.
Burns.
Vesiculobullous disease.
Haemorrhage.
Direct salivary problems - what are some examples of direct salivary gland problems ?
Aplasia - ectodermal dysplasia.
Sarcoidosis.
HIV.
Gland infiltration - amyloidosis and haemochromatosis.
Cystic fibrosis.
What are some symptoms associated with ectodermal dysplasia ?
Disorders that affect hair, nails, teeth (hypodontia, cone shaped teeth), salivary and sweat glands.
Hearing and vision.
Cleft lip and palate.
What subtype of ectodermal dysplasia is most likely to cause salivation problems ?
Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia type (X-linked).
What is sarcoidosis ?
Multisystem disease seen with granulomatous change in lymph nodes in the lung, skin, salivary glands (enlargement of submandibular and parotid glands).
How does HIV affect salivary glands ?
Lympho-proliferative disease which causes increased bulk of gland and reduction in function (active acing tissue lost).
What is amyloidosis ?
Deposition of protein within gland preventing normal function.
What is haemachromatosis ?
Excess storage of iron within the salivary tissues preventing normal function.
Direct salivary problems - what types of cancer treatment cause salivary problems ?
Radiation - reduced blood flow.
Graft vs. host disease (bone marrow transplant).
Antineoplastic drugs - accumulate causing death of acing cells.
Radiodine - accumulate causing death of acing cells.
What is the name of the scale used to assess salivary function and degree of oral dryness ?
Challacombe Scale of Mucosal Dryness.
What is the treatment for first stage Challacombe Scale of Mucosal Dryness ?
Sugar free chewing gum and frequent sips of water.
What is the treatment for second stage Challacombe Scale of Mucosal Dryness ?
Advanced treatment and salivary substitutes.
High caries risk - OH, topical fluoride, dietary advice.
What are some special investigations used in assessing salivary disease ?
Ultrasound.
Sialography (+/- MR).
Radiographs (stones).
Labial gland biopsy (“tissue assay”).
Salivary flow test (“functional assay”).
Blood tests.
What are you looking for in blood tests for assessment of salivary disease ?
Dehydration.
Diabetes.
Autoimmune conditions - Sjorgens.
HIV.
Name some examples of frequent somatoform diseases (complaint fo real symptoms but on examination, disease is not found).
Oral dyaesthesia (burning mouth).
TMD pain.
Headache.
Neck and back pain.
Dyspepsia.
IBS.
How much salivary should be produced unstimulated in 15 mins ?
1.5ml.
Name treatable causes of xerostomia.
Dehydration.
Medicines with anti-muscarinic side effects.
Medicines causing dehydration.
Poor diabetes control.
Somatoform disorder (diagnosis of exclusion).
Name causes of xerostomia with only symptomatic treatment.
Sjorgens syndrome.
Due to cancer treatment.
Due to salivary gland disease.
Name some of the treatment options for symptomatic relief of xerostomia in patients with Sjorgens, xerostomia due to cancer treatment or salivary gland disease.
Intensive dental prevention.
Salivary substitutes.
Salivary stimulants.
Name two salivary substitute sprays.
Glandosane and saliva orthana.
What salivary substitute spray should be recommended ?
Saliva orthana.
Glandosane - has high pH.