Efficacy of a novel lubricating system in the management of radiotherapy-related xerostomia

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 42; no. 8; pp. 842 - 848
• Main Authors: McMillan, Anne S., Peter Tsang, C.S., Wong, May C.M., Kam, Andrew Y.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical trial; Cross-Over Studies; Delayed-Action Preparations; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; Gels; Health Status Indicators; Health-related quality of life; Humans; Lubricating device; Male; Management; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Non tumoral diseases; Oral health; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Patient Satisfaction; Polymers - administration & dosage; Quality of Life; Radiation Injuries - etiology; Radiation Injuries - physiopathology; Radiation Injuries - therapy; Radiotherapy; Saliva, Artificial - administration & dosage; Salivation; Severity of Illness Index; Single-Blind Method; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Xerostomia; Xerostomia - etiology; Xerostomia - physiopathology; Xerostomia - therapy; Health-related quality of life; Clinical trial; Radiotherapy; Xerostomia; Oral health; Lubricating device; Human; Health; Stomatology; Device; Dental disease; Management; Quality of life; Oral cavity; Salivary gland disease; Cancerology; Treatment; Efficiency; ENT disease; Aptyalism
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2005.12.003
• ISSN: 1368-8375

A comparison was made of Oral Balance gel delivered by slow release via a novel intra-oral device versus an oral bolus of gel on the oral health condition and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients who had received standard head and neck irradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Twenty-two participants took part in a randomized single-blind crossover clinical study. Each treatment lasted 4 weeks with an intervening 4 weeks washout period. The GOHAI, Xerostomia Inventory and patient satisfaction measures were self-completed and oral health condition assessed objectively at baseline (week 0) and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Oral Balance gel, in bolus and slow-release forms, was effective in improving aspects of oral health, notably a reduction in oral cariogenic micro-organisms. Slow release of gel via the intra-oral device did not appear to improve OHRQoL whereas gel alone reduced the severity of xerostomia symptoms and was the treatment of choice.