CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRY MOUTH

REGENERATION FROM PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS

The Dry Mouth Unit, the first to implement this innovative technique in Spain, makes available to its patients the latest breakthroughs in genetic engineering that have opened a window of hope for generating organic components from pluripotent stem cells. It has given rise to a new field called regenerative medicine and the technique is applied to the salivary glands by injecting the pluripotent stem cells of the hyperfunctional glandular tissue.

ELECTROSTIMULATION

Electrostimulation is the maximum contraction of the glandular tissue by means of electrical stimulation of the lingual nerve, resulting in increased saliva production. It is performed using electrodes that directly stimulate the tongue; individual removable acrylic appliances that contain a battery with a lingual stimulator; or universal devices with integrated stimulators.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Therapeutic guidance, as well as its prognosis, depends on the cause of the problem. Treatments differ according to whether the cause is temporary or permanent, and to the amount of remaining functional glandular tissue. Together with more conventional therapies (such as para-sympathomimetic drugs, which directly stimulate the salivary glands), the Dry Mouth Unit uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which due to its hearing and antiangiogenic properties achieves a significant increase in saliva in over 50% of cases, especially in patients who have received radiotherapy, and transcutaneous acupuncture, which has been demonstrated to yield positive results, without the side effects of conventional drug treatment.