Treatment of patients with radiation-induced xerostomia using saliva substitutes as an integral part of complex substitution therapy

BACKGROUND: Dry mouth (xerostomia) can be a symptom of various diseases of human organs and systems and caused by prolonged intake of medications as well as chemoradiation treatment of malignant tumors of the maxillofacial area. Xerostomia treatment remains a challenging task.

AIM: This study aimed to improve the treatment methods of patients with xerostomia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty patients with xerostomia were treated and distributed into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients treated with Hiposalix spray (France). Group 2 included 27 patients treated using the Xerostom (Spain) saliva substitute. All patients underwent sialometry, sialography, and study of the secretion viscosity before and after treatment.

RESULTS: At 1 month after treatment, 22 (96%) patients of group 1 noted an improvement. At the same time, an objective increase in the secretion level was detected in 2 (9%) patients. All patients of group 2 noted significant improvement in the condition of the oral cavity. However, sialometry showed that the level of saliva secretion remained the same.

CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the use of saliva substitutes produced by Hiposalix and Xerostom significantly reduced or prevented the subjective sensation of dry mouth without an objective increase in saliva secretion.