219 Apppendices correlation between the palatal surface area and the length of the head. Besides, a correlation was found between the surface area of the tongue and the depth of the head. In this light, it could be envisaged that individual intra-oral surface areas can be estimated by measuring facial features, which is more convenient for the patient. Inspired by these findings, in Chapter 5 the relation between the palatal surface area, measured using an intra-oral scanner, and anthropometric measurements was validated in living subjects. This study concluded that only in females the mandibular length and palatal width correlated with the palatal surface area. Next, we aimed to determine the salivary film thickness and MUC5B levels at various intra-oral locations in healthy volunteers (Chapter 6). MUC5B is a large salivary glycoprotein with a wide variety of hydrophilic carbohydrate side chains important for moistening, visco-elasticity and lubrication. Furthermore, measurements of the palatal surface area were executed to explore the potential relationship between the palatal surface area, the palatal salivary film thickness and MUC5B levels. It was found that the salivary film and MUC5B levels were unequally distributed over the intra-oral surface. The anterior tongue had the thickest salivary film and contained the highest levels of MUC5B, whereas the anterior palate had the thinnest salivary film with the lowest MUC5B levels. There was no association found between the palatal surface area and the salivary film thickness of the palate. Various interventions are available to relieve oral dryness. The factors that could affect the choice and use of these interventions were studied in several chapters. In Chapter 7 the use of dry-mouth interventions in subgroups of patients with different causes of oral dryness was investigated. Additionally, the possible relation of the applied interventions with intra-oral dryness and salivary flow rate was explored. This study concluded that various dry-mouth patients used a wide range of interventions to relieve their oral dryness. The use of these dry-mouth interventions was significantly associated with the overall dry-mouth feeling (total Xerostomia Inventory score, XI) as well as with dry-mouth feeling at different intra-oral locations (RODI scores). In medication induced dry-mouth patients, the use of interventions aimed to relieve dryness of the entire mouth, such as “drinking water” and “rinsing of the mouth”, were significantly associated with the total XI score. However, in medication induced dry-mouth patients locally applied interventions, for example “using a mouth gel”, were significantly associated with dryness of the anterior tongue in particular.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw