RELEVANCE

There are several classifications of xerostomia based on the causes of its occurrence, the severity of clinical symptoms, the presence or absence of quantitative changes in saliva. In a number of literature sources, functional disorders of the TMJ and muscles of the maxillafacial system are indicated as one of the possible etiological factors of the development of xerostomia. However, the question of the prevalence of xerostomia of this etiology is not sufficiently reflected in the domestic and world literature.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of xerostomia associated with a change in the position of the lower jaw, potentially caused by the loss of teeth of the chewing group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 107 case histories of patients of the Department of Surgical Dentistry of the Moscow State Medical University with complaints of dry mouth aged 21 to 59 years, including 12 men and 95 women, was carried out. In each case, a thorough survey was conducted, anamnesis was collected, as well as ultrasound to exclude structural pathology of the large salivary glands. Prevalence was defined as the ratio of the number of patients with xerostomia associated with a change in the position of the lower jaw (n) to the total number of patients with xerostomia (N).

RESULTS

The prevalence of xerostomia associated with a change in the position of the lower jaw was 21.5% (p<0.05) of all identified cases of xerostomia for the period from 2017 to 2020. Among men, it makes up 8.3% of the total number of patients, among women — 23.2% (p<0.05). The most common xerostomia associated with a change in the position of the lower jaw occurs in patients aged 40 to 49 years (24.1%), less often in patients aged 30—39 years (20.0%) and 50—59 years (19.1%).

CONCLUSION

The data obtained presumably indicate a statistically significant relationship that requires further study and identification of the mechanism of development. In this connection, if a patient with xerostomia has defects in the distal parts of the dentition, it is advisable to examine them by an orthopedic dentist in order to exclude or confirm a change in the position of the lower jaw.