Awareness of Anti-Sialogogues Among Dental Students

Abstract

The aim of this research is to assess the awareness of anti-sialogogues among dental students. Antisialogogues are substances that decrease the production of saliva, and their effect is opposite to that of sialogogues. Sialogogues are agents or drugs which increase the salivation during xerostomia. Anti-Sialogogues may be natural or synthetic. The most common adverse effect of root canal treatments, extractions and jaw surgeries. Antisialogogues are contraindicated in cases of Sjogren's syndrome, and in patients undergoing radiation therapy. This was an epidemiological survey conducted on 100 CRI students. The questionnaire was distributed via an online survey tool. The questionnaire contained 10 open ended questions regarding the knowledge and awareness of antisialogogues. The responses were collected and tabulated in the excel sheets, following which they were exported to SPSS software for statistical analysis. The CRIs possessed a moderate amount of awareness on antisialogogues. 73% of the students were aware of the function of the antisialogogues. 85% preferred the use of antisialogogues in cases of patients with hypersalivation. 37% of the students agreed that nausea is one of the side effects of antisialogogues, 79% of the students were aware that antisialogogues are contraindicated in patients with sjogren's syndrome and in patients undergoing radiation therapy.