Summary Trial/Oral Medicine
Evidence-Based Dentistry (2006) 7, 42–43. doi:10.1038/sj.ebd.6400392
Reservoir biteguard improves quality of life of people with xerostomia
What is the effect of a reservoir biteguard for artificial saliva on the oral health-related quality of life of people who have xerostomia?
Address for correspondence: Professor Peter G Robinson, Department of Oral Health and Development, School of Clinical Dentistry, Claremont Crescent, Sheffield S10 2TA, UK. E-mail: peter.g.robinson@sheffield.ac.uk.
Murray Thomson1
1Department of Oral Sciences, School of Dentistry, The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Robinson PG, Pankhurst CL, Garrett EJ. Randomized-controlled trial: effect of a reservoir biteguard on quality of life in xerostomia. J Oral Pathol Med 2005; 34:193–197
Abstract
Design
A double-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted in two London teaching hospitals.
Intervention
Patients who had symptomatic xerostomia were randomised into either the study (reservoir biteguard) or the control (conventional biteguard) groups. All participants were asked to wear the biteguards at night-time and at other times during the day if they preferred. They were provided with aqueous gel and artificial saliva spray for symptomatic relief of their xerostomia for the duration of the study.
Outcome measure
Outcomes were number of impacts and total scores as recorded by a modified version of oral impacts on daily performance (OIDP). They were measured at baseline and 1 year after wearing a biteguard.
Results
Of 136 people who were invited to participate, 92 gave informed consent but six declined to participate before randomisation. At 1-month followup, 84 people remained in the trial. The median number of impacts in the study and control groups was three and four respectively. The median total score was six and 12 respectively. In ANCOVA, receipt of the reservoir biteguard reduced the number of impacts recorded by OIDP but there was no significant difference in the total score.
Conclusions
Reservoir biteguards improved the quality of life of people with xerostomia by reducing the number of impacts on daily life.
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