Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

¹Hacettepe Ãœniversitesi DiÅŸ HekimliÄŸi Fakültesi Ağız DiÅŸ Çene Cerrahisi ve Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı ANKARA
²Hacettepe Ãœniversitesi DiÅŸ HekimliÄŸi Fakültesi Oral Diagnoz ve Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı ANKARA Saliva, which is necessary for oral homeostasis, oral function and maintenance of oral health, is very important for the quality of life. There are various oral complications related to xerostomia. Secretion of saliva and its composition are largely age independent in healthy people. Dry mouth complaint is common in elderly people as a result of a Sjogren's syndrome, radiotherapy, medication use and systemic disorders. Diagnosis of hyposalivation is based on the patient's history and clinical examination. Salivary flow rates can be measured with sialometry. It is very important to elicit an accurate drug and family history. Current treatment approaches for management of xerostomia are directed toward providing relief of symptoms and resulting complications. In order to decide on the most effective way for the treatment of xerostomia in geriatric patients, well organized clinical studies are needed. Keywords : Xerostomia; Saliva; Etiology; Treatment