Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
June 2009
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
10
Issue:
2

Evaluation of the impact of dental status and salivary secretion on people with dysphagia

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the impact of dental status and salivary secretion rates in individuals referred for swallowing difficulties. Design: One hundred consecutive patients referred to an ENT-clinic for investigation of dysphagia were offered a dental examination including testing of salivary secretion rates. An evaluation was made of the impact of dental factors on the ability to swallow based on an interview on chewing capacity and choice of food, a panoramic radiograph, a clinical examination of dental status and salivary secretion rates for unstimulated and chewing stimulated whole saliva. Results: In 90 examined individuals aged 14 to 92 years, 58 (64.4%) were 60 years or older. Many medical diagnoses known to affect swallowing were represented. Almost half of the patients had a cerebrovascular lesion or a neuromuscular disorder as their main medical diagnosis. In eight individuals a surgical intervention preceded the symptoms of dysphagia. In about half of the patients the swallowing disorder was localised to the pharyngeal phase and in one third to the oral phase of the swallow. In 61.7% of the patients decreased salivary secretion rates or a compromised dentition, or both, were judged to have a severe or moderate impact on the ability to swallow. Conclusion: Referral for dental examination, including evaluation of dental status and salivary function, and in some cases oral rehabilitation, in patients referred for investigation of swallowing disorders is strongly advocated. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of dental treatment in individuals with dysphagia.

Key words: Deglutition disorders, dental status, xerostomia, chewing, oral rehabilitation

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
1
Page End
6
Authors
B Bergendal, E Mörner-Serikoff, L Forsgren, J Wallquist

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  1. Editorial
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  1. An overview of the Oral Motor Function Therapy Clinic in the Special Care Unit in Westmead Hospital, Australia
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  1. Recruitment difficulties associated with epidemiological surveys of the dental health of children with a Statement of Educational Special Needs in four PCTs in the Northwest of England in 2006/7
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  1. An investigation of the caries experience of children with an intellectual disability living in a residential centre or at home
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  1. Evaluation of the impact of dental status and salivary secretion on people with dysphagia
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  1. Further abstracts from the IADH Congress, Santos, Brazil October 2008
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  1. Oral hygiene education programme for intellectually impaired students attending a special school
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