Clinical Usefulness of an Oral Moisture Checking Device (Mucus)

Abstract

A new oral moisture checking device (Mucus ® ) has been developed that can measure oral mucosal moisture within 2 seconds. The results of this study suggest that oral mucosal moisture can be measured with the new oral moisture checking device without any inter-operator error. AbstractPurpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that may influence the results of measurements of oral mucosal moisture using the new oral moisture checking device, especially in relation to the operator and the sensor cover. Methods:Oral mucosal moisture was measured using a new oral moisture checking device (Mucus ® ). To determine the influence of the operator on the measured values by the oral moisture checking device, 5 operators measured the oral mucosal moisture in 12 subjects. The differences were analyzed using the Friedman test. To determine the influence of the sensor cover, one operator measured the oral mucosal moisture in 12 subjects using two sensor covers. The differences were analyzed by Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. Results:The result of the Friedman test revealed the absence of any significant influence of the operator on the measured values of oral mucosal moisture by the oral moisture checking device. The results of the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test revealed that the measured values of oral mucosal moisture by the measuring device differed by about 1.6 % between the two sensor covers (P<0.01). Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that oral mucosal moisture can be measured using the new oral moisture checking device without any interoperator error. However, there is some possibility of the measured values differing depending on the sensor cover used.

Hygrometric Properties of Inspired Gas and Oral Dryness in Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure During Noninvasive Ventilation

“…The usefulness and ease of use of this oral hygrometer (within 2 seconds) have been reported. 19,20 Following the manufacturer's definitions, oral moistness over 29% was considered normal, 25-29% was considered dry, and Ͻ 25% was considered severely dry. Each…”

Comparison of a saliva wetness tester and a moisture‐checking device in patients with maxillary obturator prostheses

“…Table 2 shows the number and percentage of subjects with and without dry mouth according to the respective moisture measurements. In the group with dry mouth according to the moisturechecking device, the number of subjects with dry mouth according to the saliva wetness tester (13) was significantly higher than the number of subjects without dry mouth (1) (p < 0.01). In the group without dry mouth according to the moisture-checking device, the number of the subjects without dry mouth according to the saliva wetness tester (16) was significantly higher than the number of subjects with dry mouth (0) (p < 0.01).…”

“…Moisture measurements were usually performed in the lingual and buccal mucosa because many patients complain of dry mouth in those areas. In the present study, moisture measurements were performed only in the lingual mucosa according to the results of our previous study on the relationship between the lingual and buccal moisture levels and symptoms of dry mouth.…”

“…The results that moisture measurements corresponded to both the results of the conventional method and the subjective symptoms of dry mouth support the result of the present study. Moisture measurements were usually performed in the lingual and buccal mucosa because many patients complain of dry mouth in those areas 1,2,6,10,13 . In the present study, moisture measurements were performed only in the lingual mucosa according to the results of our previous study on the relationship between the lingual and buccal moisture levels and symptoms of dry mouth 2 .…”

“…After keeping the subject at rest for 5 min under quiet circumstances without talking, each measurement was performed five times 1,2,10 . The mean value of each measurement was calculated [1][2][3]7,12,13 . To evaluate the results, a value of 29% for moisture level 1,2 and 3 mm for saliva wetness 7,12 were used as reference values in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.…”