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Laser as a therapy for dry mouth symptoms in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome: a case report
Author(s) -
Simões Alyne,
Platero Maira Duque,
Campos Luana,
Aranha Ana Cecília,
Eduardo Carlos de Paula,
Nicolau José
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2009.00078.x
Subject(s) - dry mouth , medicine , parotid gland , salivary gland , dry eyes , dermatology , surgery , dentistry , saliva , ophthalmology
This clinical case study reports on dry mouth symptoms in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) who was treated with laser phototherapy (LPT). A 60‐year‐old woman diagnosed with SS was referred to the laboratory for lasers in dentistry to treat her severe xerostomia. A diode laser (780 nm, 3.8 J/cm 2 , 15 mW) was used to irradiate the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, three times per week, for a period of 8 months. The salivary flow rate and xerostomia symptoms were measured before, during, and after LPT. Dry mouth symptoms improved during LPT. After LPT, the parotid salivary gland pain and swelling were no longer present. Treatment with LPT was an effective method to improve the quality of life of this patient with SS.