OBJECTIVE: To evaluate salivary gland function, saliva composition and oral findings in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) subdivided into patients with and without focus score ≤1 (FS) and/or antibodies to SSA/SSB (AB) as well as in healthy controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Unstimulated (UWS) and chewing stimulated (SWS) whole saliva, and stimulated parotid saliva (SPS) were collected in 16 patients fulfilling the European classification criteria for pSS subdivided into those with FS and/or AB (n= 8) and those without FS and AB (n= 8), and in age‐matched (n= 14) and young healthy controls (n= 13).UWS and SWS were analysed for Na+ and K+.SPS was analysed for Na+, K+, statherin, and proline‐rich proteins (PRPs).Sicca symptoms, DMFT/DMFS, plaque (PI) and gingival (GI) scores, periodontal pocket depth (PPD), and mucosal status were recorded. RESULTS: The young healthy controls had lower UWS as compared to the aged controls (P= 0.03).However, the aged controls had higher DMFT/DMFS (P < 0.001) and PI, GI and PPD (P < 0.01).Patients with FS and/or AB generally had lower saliva secretory rates than patients without FS and/or AB (P= 0.01 for UWS and SPS) and age‐matched healthy controls (P= 0.001). There was no significant difference in the content of Na+ and K+, statherin and PRPs between groupS. Patients with FS and/or AB had the highest frequency of oral mucosal changes and higher DMFT/DMFS than patients without FS and/or AB and healthy controls (P < 0.01).However, PI, GI, and PPD did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Patients with FS and/or AB had lower salivary secretory rates, higher DMFT/DMFS, and more oral mucosal changes than patients without FS and/or AB.Additionally, data suggest that salivary gland function in healthy individuals do not decrease with age.

This paper describes oral findings in an adult population with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) in Norway (n=94). All participants underwent a structured interview and an oral examination. Panoramic radiographs were analyzed. The findings were compared with data from other Nordic epidemiological studies. Seventeen individuals (19%) had clinical signs of dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI). Persons with OI had twice as many missing teeth as the general population, and the number of endodontically treated teeth was higher than in the general population. All persons in the study had an acceptable state of tooth tissue loss. Almost all (97%) of the participants in the study group visited a dentist or a dental hygienist regularly. The results of the study indicated a low prevalence of clinical DI compared with previous reported studies. Oral health was not as good in the population with OI when compared with the general population, although daily oral health habits were good and dental visits were regular.

Enamel disturbances were frequently seen. There were more hypomineralizations than hypoplasias. Hypoparathyroidism and/or hypocalcemia are not clear etiological factors for enamel disturbances and there were no major correlations between medical conditions and enamel disturbances.

Thirty-nine (57%) of the oligodontia patients had disturbances in either hair, nails and/or sweat production in addition to teeth and were classified as the ED group. The remaining 29 oligodontia patients had no obvious signs of EDs (non-ED group). The prevalences of dry skin, asthma and eczema were higher, and whole salivary secretory rates lower, in the ED group as compared to the control group. Intermediate values were observed in the non-ED group. Incisors, canines and molars were more frequently missing in the ED group than in the non-ED group, whereas no differences were observed in the frequency of missing premolars. Negative correlations between the number of missing teeth and unstimulated and chewing stimulated whole salivary secretory rates were found.

BACKGROUND. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare complex multisystemic genetic disorder. AIM. The objective of this study was to provide a systematic assessment of whole saliva secretion and oral manifestations associated with PWS. DESIGN. Fifty individuals (5-40 years) with PWS and an age- and sex-matched control group were included. Whole saliva was collected. All participants underwent an anamnestic interview. Radiological and dental clinical examinations were carried out to identify hypodontia, dental caries, enamel defects and gingival inflammation. RESULTS. Mean whole salivary flow rate was 0.12 ± 0.11 mL/min in the study group compared with 0.32 ± 0.20 mL/min in the control group (P < 0.001). Hypodontia was significantly more common in PWS (P < 0.001), and dental caries in the age group >19 years was significantly lower in PWS (P = 0.04) compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition or in the frequency of enamel defects in the permanent dentition between the two groups. Median Gingival Index was significantly higher in the Prader-Willi group compared with the controls (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS. Low salivary flow is a consistent finding in PWS. Nevertheless, despite dry mouth and dietary challenges, dental caries is not increased in Norwegian individuals with PWS.