Intraoral differences in perceived oral dryness as determined by means of the Regional Oral Dryness Inventory

Abstract

A sensation of dry mouth can be determined with a general questionnaire, the Xerostomia Inventory (XI). This questionnaire, however, does not distinguish among regional differences of oral dryness. In this study, therefore, a new questionnaire was evaluated, the Regional Oral Dryness Inventory (RODI), quantifying the severity of dryness in various intraoral locations. 337 patients participated in this study with an average age of 54 ± 17 years. It appeared there is a significant difference in the sensation of dry mouth between different intraoral locations; the perceived dryness scored highest for the posterior palate and lowest for the floor of the mouth. Introduction of the RODI might help to discriminate among different potential causes of oral dryness in patients. The RODI is highly accessible and easy to carry out in dental practices during routine clinical assessment.