Sjögren’s Syndrome - Oral Health Care Considerations
- Frequent recalls to address increased caries risk, mainly due to hyposalivation
- Emphasis on good oral hygiene
- Frequent fluoride applications
- Encourage frequent hydration
- Encourage avoidance of coffee, alcohol and tobacco products
- Encourage use of sugar-free gums
- Increase salivary flow with systemic sialalogues:
pilocarpine – 5 mg tid; start with 2.5 mg bid, increase by small increments at intervals of 4-6 weeks. Do not exceed 10 mg/dose to a maximum of 30 mg/day;
cevimeline – 30 mg tid; start with a lower dosage and increase incrementally;
bethanecol – 10 to 50 mg tid or qid; start with a lower dosage and increase incrementally.
Side-effects may include increased urinary frequency, increased sweating, flushing, headaches, nausea, and abdominal pain. To reduce side-effects,medications should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. - Enhance oral discomfort with lubricating gels and mucin sprays
- Recognize and treat oral candidiasis
- Suggest the use of humidifiers at night, avoid dry and smoky environments
Medical Complexity Status - Sjögren’s Syndrome#
| Sjögren’s Syndrome | MCS1A |
|---|---|
| Anticipated complication | Controlled/ stable |
| Hemostasis | None |
| Microbial susceptibility | None |
| Drugs/ drug interactions | None |
| Stress/trauma | None |
See Medical Complexity Status for more information.
Related Pages#
- Medical Disorders
- Laboratory Values
- Classification and Definitions
References/Websites#
- References
- Shiboski CH, et al. 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League against rheumatism classification criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017 Jan;69(1):35-45
- Vitali C, et al. Classification criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome: a revised version of the European criteria proposed by the American-European Consensus Group. Ann Rheum Dis. 2002 Jun;61(6):554-8
- Websites