Effects of hyposalivatory medications on saliva flow rates and dental caries in adults aged 65 and older.

Abstract

Institutionalized adults aged 65 or older often receive medications that have been associated with decreased saliva flow. Flow rates depressed by hyposalivatory medications are thought to increase susceptibility to dental caries. In this study, a cross-sectional comparison was made of stimulated whole saliva rates and coronal and root caries prevalence in a group of older adults, in a long-term care facility, taking hyposalivatory medications vs. a control group. No significant differences were found between the two groups in masticatory or gustatory stimulated flow rates or in mean decayed coronal or root surfaces.