To provide extended intra-oral delivery of a saliva substitute.
Three different types of prostheses containing saliva substitute were designed and assessed: a two-part device resembling a mandibular complete denture sealed by cobalt-samerium magnets, a one-part clear resin device for the edentate patients and a flexible mouth guard type of appliance containing a lubricant releasing bubble for the dentate patients.
A teaching hospital Oral Medicine and Rheumatology Clinic.
8 edentate and 3 dentate Sjogren Syndrome sufferers.
Subjective dryness after a week of wearing the lubricating appliance.
The majority of the subjects wore the appliances for 6-12 hours during each 24 hours. The initial dryness severity diminished after wearing the lubricating prosthesis. The patients preferred to wear the appliance at night.
All criteria were fulfilled on designing a saliva substitute lubricating appliance and some of the subjects have worn this prosthesis successfully for up to 3 years. Particular benefit was obtained by night-time wear.