Survey of Trends in Patients Visiting Meikai University Hospital Dry Mouth Division over an 8-year Period

Abstract

Xerostomia is a symptom that causes disturbance of eating, dysgeusia, and oral pain due to mouth dryness resulting from a decrease of saliva secretion. Recently, the number of patients visiting dental clinics with a chief complaint of dry mouth has increased, and in April 2009 the division of Oral Diagnosis and General Dentistry at Meikai University Hospital established a Dry Mouth Division. We have since been investigating patients with xerostomia to clarify the causative factors and related lifestyle habits, and ways in which the condition can be improved. Here we report the trends in patients visiting our division over the 8-year period from April 2009 to March 2017.