Management of a post-radiotherapy xerostomic patient--a case report.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to fabricate complete denture with palatal reservoir filled with artificial saliva for a post radiotherapy edentulous patient. BACKGROUND: Xerostomia is a subjective complaint rather than a disease. It is caused by irradiation, medication, Sjogren's syndrome & neurological factors such as stress. Radiotherapeutic treatment of head and neck cancer patients often causes long term dysfunction involving their salivary function, swallowing capabilities & taste. All three of these domains are affected by radiation- induced damage to the salivary glands. This in turn results in poor retention of complete denture, frequent trauma to alveolar ridge & other oral infections. All these events drastically affects quality of life of ageing patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A complete denture in heat cure acrylic resin was fabricated in which a palatal reservoir was made on the palatal side. RESULTS: Problems arising due to xerostomia were reduced to a great extent. CONCLUSION: Prosthodontic management of Xerostomic patient include several techniques. This paper presents a case report of post radiotherapy edentulous patient in which complete denture with palatal reservoir filled with artificial saliva was fabricated.