Caries Experience in Subjects With dry Mouth-Related Conditions

Objectives: To assess whether having Sicca syndrome and Sjogren’s syndrome in addition to xerostomia is associated with higher caries experience.
Methods: The sample included data from two datasets: 328 subjects were identified during Lithuanian National survey, and 127 participants were included from 5 hospitals in Vilnius, Lithuania. The same methodology was used to collect data for both datasets, and the inclusion criterion was self-reported dry mouth. Data were collected via the World Health Organization (WHO) Questionnaire for Adults supplemented with questions asking frequency of dry mouth, dry eye-related questions, and systemic diseases. Participants went through clinical examination, which included caries status assessment. The Whole unstimulated sialometry and Schirmer’s test were performed for participants with dry eyes to confirm the Sicca syndrome. For statistical analyses, participants with xerostomia were divided into three frequency groups: experiencing dry mouth ’sometimes’, ‘often’, and ‘always’. Sicca syndrome group consisted of participants with salivary flow ≤1.5 ml/15 min together with tear flow ≤5mm/5min, and Sjogren’s syndrome group was comprised of those who had self-reported Sjogren’s syndrome. Independent Samples Kruskal Wallis Test and Mann Whitney Test were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Out of 455 participants, 76% (348) were females. More than half of participants (258, 57%) experienced xerostomia sometimes, 27% (123) often, and 16% (74) had it always. The Sicca syndrome was diagnosed for 8% (35), and 6% (29) had Sjogren’s syndrome. The median DMFS score in those who had xerostomia ‘sometimes’ was 66 (IQR13), often 74 (IQR19), and always 84 (IQR19), p=0.001. The DMFS score differed significantly between those with additional Sicca syndrome and not, with median scores 97 (IQR28), and 70 (IQR10), respectively, p=0.001.
Conclusions: Participants with a higher frequency of xerostomia had higher caries experience. Having Sicca syndrome in addition to xerostomia associated with higher DMFS scores, although additional Sjogren’s syndrome was not associated with it.