Xerostomia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Xerostomia, including details on dry mouth, treatment, causes, lack of saliva.

The effects of xerogenic medications on oral mucosa among the Veterans Dental Study participants.

Janket SJ, Jones J, Rich S, Miller D, Wehler CJ, Van Dyke TE, Garcia R, Meurman JH

Department of General Dentistry, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. skjanket@bu.edu

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of xerogenic medications with the oral mucosa inflammation score (OMS) in US male veterans. METHODS: The relationship of having the worst 25th percentile in OMS and intake of xerogenic medications with different pharmacologic indications was analyzed by logistic regression, controlling for age in 3 categories (< or =44, 45-64, > or =65), smoking, disease burden index, alcohol abuse, and the duration of medication, in 290 subjects participating in the Veterans Dental Study. RESULTS: When polypharmacy and denture-wearing status in addition to the aforementioned covariates were controlled, the odds ratios for cardiovascular disease medications and sympathetic agonists were 2.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-5.91, P < .006), and 2.96 (CI 1.21-7.26, P < .02), respectively, and those for psychotropics and antihistamines were 2.12 (CI 0.94-4.80, P < .06) and 2.09 (CI 0.80-5.48, P < 0.14), respectively. CONCLUSION: Xerogenic medication may be associated with oral mucosal pathology.

Published 19 January 2007 in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 103(2): 223-30.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Xerostomia Research Today. All Rights Reserved.