XEROSTOMIA AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE REMOVABLE DENTURES PROPERTIES AND ORAL FUNCTIONS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: To determine the frequency of xerostomia in elderly patients and its effects on removable dentures retention, stability, support and its effects on the functions of removable dentures at the Department of Prosthodontics, Khyber College of Dentistry. Materials and Methods: This Cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Prosthodontics, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar from 1st January to 31st December 2018. A total of 207 subjects were recruited who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Xerostomia and satisfaction with oral functions with removable dentures were evaluated by using shortened xerostomia inventory questionnaire. Patients satisfaction with oral functions of dentures was assessed by questionnaire and its retention, support and stability were checked clinically. The data was analysed using SPSS 2017. Results: In this study the frequency of xerostomia was 18.34%.The frequency of xerostomia in females and males was 25.5% and 12.38% respectively. Subjects with age above 60 years were more prone to dry mouth i.e.; 39.13%. The most frequent complaint in the patients with removable dentures was soreness (18%) and movement of dentures with function (17%). There was a significant association (p=0.000) of xerostomia (18.34%) with dissatisfaction of speech (61%), mastication (87%), soreness (68.2%) and inadequate retention stability and support of removable dentures (89.47%). Conclusion: This study concluded that xerostomia was more frequent in females than males, It was found that it is more frequent in the age group above 60 years. The patients with xerostomia were found to be more dissatisfied with the functions of the removable dentures like speech, mastication, comfort and retention of the prosthesis.