Differences in perceived intra-oral dryness in various dry-mouth patients as determined using the Regional Oral Dryness Inventory

Abstract

Objectives Recently, it was shown that the Regional Oral Dryness Inventory (RODI) could determine differences in dry-mouth perception at different intra-oral locations. The main aim of this study was to determine whether the RODI might help to discriminate between various causes of oral dryness in dry-mouth patients. The second aim was to ascertain whether the RODI could become an additional diagnostic tool in dry-mouth patients. Materials and methods Data were collected retrospectively from patients who visited a specialized saliva clinic. Salivary flow rates, Xerostomia Inventory scores, and RODI scores were extracted from the medical records. Patients were stratified into subgroups according to their health status. Results Five hundred twenty-eight patients participated in this study (mean age of 59.6 ± 16.0 years; 68.4% female). Specific patient groups differed with regard to the region of the mouth they experienced as the most and least dry. The posterior palate was the area perceived as most dry by controls and Sjögren patients. In patients using limited or multiple medications, it was the anterior tongue. RODI scores also differed significantly among dry-mouth patient groups: whereas controls and patients using limited medication had the lowest RODI scores and experienced less intra-oral dryness, Sjögren patients had the highest RODI scores. Conclusion Our use of the RODI questionnaire showed that perceived intra-oral dryness differed between the various dry-mouth patients. Clinical relevance The RODI can be a valuable clinical diagnostic tool in dry-mouth diagnostics, in which it can be used to discriminate between the various causes of oral dryness in patients.

The association between oral dryness and use of dry-mouth interventions in Sjögren’s syndrome patients

“…The results in the current study are consistent with our previous study which reported the perceived intraoral dryness for various dry-mouth patients [8], including Sjögren's patients as well as patients with polypharmacy and patients treated with radiotherapy. In that previous study, it was also found that the posterior palate was also the most dry in Sjögren's syndrome patients, while the floor of the mouth and the inside cheeks were experienced as least dry [8]. This supports the suggestion that use of the RODI might add in screening or diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome.…”

“…However, it is expected that these generic dry interventions would be significantly associated with the overall mouth dryness (XI-score) and not with the intra-oral dryness. In a previous study, it was found that the XI-scores of Sjögren’s patients had the highest correlations with the RODI-scores of the posterior palate, anterior and posterior tongue, and floor of the mouth [ 8 ]. When looking to the other dry-mouth patients, it was found that the RODI-scores of the anterior and posterior tongue and the floor of the mouth had the highest correlations with total XI-scores [ 8 ].…”

“…Secondly, the Regional Oral Dryness Inventory (RODI) questionnaire was used to determine differences in dry-mouth perception at different intra-oral locations. The RODI questionnaire contains nine schematic illustrations of different locations in the oral cavity [ 8 , 9 ]. Four illustrations represent areas in the upper jaw: the upper lip, the posterior part of the palate (from the rugae up to the end of the soft palate), the anterior part of the palate (including the rugae) and the inside part of the cheeks.…”

“…Finally, one illustration represents the pharynx. At each location, the patient can indicate the severity of the intra-oral dryness on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1—"No dryness" to 5—"Severe dryness” [ 8 , 9 ].…”

“…The advice is usually related to the overall oral dryness severity. However, we have recently shown that there are significant regional differences in perceived intra-oral dryness [ 8 , 9 ]. Dry-mouth patients experienced the oral dryness of the posterior palate as most severe, while the floor of the mouth and the inside cheeks were experienced less dry.…”