Oral Surg Oral Med O
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Oral Surg Oral Med O · Nov 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialThe influence of pilocarpine and biperiden on pH value and calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate concentrations in saliva during and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of parasympathomimetic pilocarpine and anticholinergic biperiden on salivation, pH value, and calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate concentrations in saliva in patients irradiated for malignant tumors of the head and neck region. ⋯ The results of our study indicate that the inhibition of saliva secretion during radiotherapy and its stimulation after completion of treatment can contribute not only to some preservation of the quantity of saliva but also to at least partial preservation of its quality in terms of pH value and calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate concentrations.