Oral Implications of Polypharmacy in the Elderly

• Published in: The Dental clinics of North America Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 783 - 796
• Main Authors: Singh, Mabi L., DMD, MS, Papas, Athena, DMD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-10-2014
• Subjects: Aged; Dental Care for Aged; Dentistry; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Elderly; Homeostasis - drug effects; Humans; Medications; Mouth Diseases - chemically induced; Mouth Diseases - prevention & control; Polypharmacy; Quality of Life; Saliva; Saliva - drug effects; Salivary hypofunction; Tooth Diseases - chemically induced; Tooth Diseases - prevention & control; Xerostomia - chemically induced; Xerostomia - prevention & control; Medications; Polypharmacy; Saliva; Elderly; Salivary hypofunction
• ISSN: 0011-8532; 1558-0512
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cden.2014.07.004

One of the major side effects of medications prescribed to elderly patients is the qualitative and quantitative alteration of saliva (salivary hypofunction). Saliva plays a pivotal role in the homeostasis of the oral cavity because of its protective and functional properties, including facilitating speech, swallowing, enhancing taste, buffering and neutralizing intrinsic and extrinsic acid, remineralizing teeth, maintaining the oral mucosal health, preventing overgrowth of noxious microorganisms, and xerostomia. With salivary hypofunction, a plethora of complications arise, resulting in decreased quality of life. The anticholinergic effects of medications can be overcome, and the oral cavity can be restored to normalcy.