European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SIALOMETRIC AND SIALOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENT: A CASE REPORT

Vineet R.V* and Moksha Nayak

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease causing inflammation of the joints and resulting in painful deformity and immobility. Apart from the systemic manifestations there is a profound effect of rheumatoid arthritis on exocrine salivary gland function causing a detrimental effect on the oral health status. Assessing the salivary gland function may be beneficial in understanding the oral health status of the patient in such conditions. This case report is about a 21 year old female patient with a history of rheumatoid arthritis who presented with severely mutilated oral condition. Sialometric and sialochemical analysis were carried out which demonstrated significantly altered salivary gland function. The treatment plan was to augment the salivary function using artificial salivary substitutes and then carrying out the restorative and prosthetic rehabilitation. This article aims to validate the importance of sialometric and sialochemical analysis in treating the underlying etiologic factor prior to any dental procedure, thus providing a definitive and comprehensive management of oral health conditions.

Keywords: Oral health, rheumatoid arthritis, sialometry, sialochemistry, salivary gland function.