Case 4: The patient with diabetes mellitus and xerostomia

This chapter presents a case study on the patient with diabetes mellitus and complaint of xerostomia. Oral findings include recurrent caries and denture stomatitis. The xerostomia persists, making retention of the maxillary complete denture a problem. The chapter provides medical history, dental history, history of the current problem of the patient with diabetes mellitus and xerostomia. There are several approaches that should be considered when treating the patient with diabetes and xerostomia. The first is to improve metabolic control and see if the xerostomia improves. Local measures include application of fluoride varnishes to prevent additional carious lesions, rinsing with artificial saliva, and the use of sugar-free lozenges to increase salivary flow. Another approach to reducing the symptoms of xerostomia for the edentulous patient with a complete denture is to incorporate a salivary reservoir into the removable appliance.